Helping the Garden Grow

Common Ground Garden Grows! by Nancy Bauer, OSB

November 13, 2014, is Give to the Max Day, an opportunity for donors to give on-line to their favorite non-profits, including Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Last year, thanks to the generosity of many friends and the help of matching gifts, we received $74,830, surpassing our goal of $67,000! This year we’re hoping to raise $50,000 on line with additional $32,000 in matching gifts.

This year, we want to raise funds to enhance a very special ministry, Common Ground Garden. Kate Ritger, our Production Manager explains:

“People feel the garden is more than a piece of land or business that provides healthy food, but a group of people who  care about each other, live the Benedictine values, and work for greater access to healthy food in central Minnesota. I believe the greatest area of growth has been in community engagement. More and more people, subscribers, neighbors and friends in the community feel a sense of belonging at the garden, either working in exchange for vegetables, having their own gardening space, or coming to events.”

Give to the Max will provide funds to expand this ministry that impacts a wider community through subscribers, donations to food shelves, hosting student groups and working with the local grade schools to spread the spirituality of our Benedictine values—especially community, hospitality and sustainability.

Fundable phases include:

·        major electrical updating

·        coolers and improved working and education space

·        a winter green house for a “year-round” garden (dream phase!)                                                        

Give to the Max Day 2014 will again have special incentives, such as an hourly drawing when a donor’s name is randomly selected and $1,000 added to their gift. Also, the top non-profits receive extra funds at the end of the day.

If you'd like to be part of helping Common Ground Garden to expand and touch more people's lives,  visit www.GiveMN.org on November 13 to donate. GiveMN.org is mobile-optimized for smartphones and tablets so you can give wherever you are. Thank you for your support.

Patricia Ruether, OSB