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The Rev. Julia L. Brown finds herself in the midst of conflicting feelings each spring. "I dislike the rain and the allergies, but I love the new growth we see all around. What's brown is turning green," she notes. "We are blessed to see resurrection every spring."
The congregation of Solomon's United Church of Christ in New Franklin, Pennsylvania, has taken action to address food insecurity by transforming their unused lawn into community gardens. "We are blessed with a few acres, a lot of which was just lawn. There weren't any youth using it anymore," Brown explains.
The idea was born from the vision of the retired pastor's wife, who hoped to create a space for the community. "She wanted Solomon's lawn to become a community space," Brown shares.
Solomon's UCC now features 20 raised beds and inground plots available to the public. These efforts were supported by a grant that added handicap-accessible elevated gardening beds. Additionally, the church has become part of the Katie's Krops initiative, a national gardening movement that empowers children as earth stewards.
Observing the children cultivate plants served as a poignant reminder for Brown of nature's teaching power. Last year, the gardens produced 300 pounds of fresh vegetables donated to the community. This is significant for Franklin County, where about 17,000 residents face food insecurity.
While their immediate task has been to address food needs, Solomon's UCC is also looking at broader ecological objectives, such as planting native trees and maintaining a pollinator garden. "We have all this space to fill in native trees that would glorify God and support the ecosystem," Brown mentions.
The church's story is also one of internal transformation. Three years ago, Solomon’s decided to transition from part-time to full-time ministry, illustrating their desire to approach church not as a business but as a creative venture.
During the Covid years, Brown completed her theological education and was drawn to Solomon’s UCC, whose profile resonated with her own commitment to food security and environmental care. "The decision was made to run with it," Brown states.
Reflecting on the teachings of Jeff Chu, author of "Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand," Brown finds solace in his assertion that "life ultimately gets the last word." Chu will be visiting Solomon's UCC on June 18 to discuss this further. In the interim, Brown carries his message into Eastertide, recognizing an enduring truth in the midst of societal fear: "Life does have the last word. We can trust that — even now in a society where everything feels scary. Life having the last word is our Easter story," she concludes.
