Summer is Humming Along, Fall Planting Begins

The garden is humming with activity, and we don’t mean just the bees! During the week ended August 16th we harvested and donated 4,796 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables to feed the local hungry. Tomatoes, beans, summer squash, cabbage and peppers require harvesting nearly every day now. The potato crop looks good and is coming on strong, too.

We will begin our planting for fall this week. We will plant sugar snap peas immediately after harvesting the potatoes. Lettuces and root crops will follow.

Photo References: A young volunteer surveys some of the 48 varieties of peppers growing in the garden.
Volunteers at the end of a busy morning in the garden.
Sheila Rouse holds up a bitter melon, which is prized in Asian cuisines for its many health benefits.

Produce Donated Through
August 16, 2025

Produce Weight
Apples 40
Arugula 30
Beans 160
Beets 115
Bitter Melon 39
Cabbage 2,766
Collards 280
Cucumbers 285
Edamame 30
Eggplant 425
Garlic 245
Kale 250
Lettuce 280
Onions 240
Potatoes 1,795
Peas 350
Peppers 450
Radish 185
Spinach 92
Swiss Chard 295
Tomatoes 4,075
Tomatillos 10
Zucchini 1,340

Total 13,777

Donation Sites
CFUM 2,517
Johnston 949
LSI 715
St Marks’ Fridge 670
Trinity 4,090
WDM 4,836

Total 13,777

Become a Garden Volunteer
Beat the Heat with an Early Start

Plenty of volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday, starting around 7:30 a.m. (note our new earlier start time) with time out for lunch and then again in the afternoon. No experience necessary. Text Mark at 515-988-5381 to let him know you are coming and to volunteer and aid in our planning.

When volunteering in the garden, wear clothes that can get dirty and dress for the weather. A hat and water bottle are good to bring with you. Bring garden gloves if you have them; otherwise, we can provide them. We have the tools you will need.

We are off to a great year, thanks to good weather and great volunteers. Special thanks to more than 30 volunteers from the Aptia Group who helped with the garlic harvest last Friday. Below is the first ripe tomato from the garden this season in a photo taken last week. We expect the tomato harvest to begin in earnest next week. There are approximately 1,000 tomato plants growing in the garden.

Plenty of Sun, Rain and Volunteers
Sheila Rouse shows off some of the zucchini we started harvesting this week.

Mary Bartusek and Celeste Egger staked up the pepper plants on Monday as they are growing fast.

Permeable black plastic fabric is an important part of our weed control strategy. After the fabric laid down, we cut holes in it and plant our vegetable sets. Then we cover the weed fabric with about four inches of mulch to retain water.

Produce Donated through July 8, 2025

Arugula 30
Cabbage 290
Collards 140
Garlic 135
Kale 75
Lettuce 280
Onions 240
Potatoes 200
Peas 325
Radish 185
Spinach 92
Swiss Chard 120
Zucchini 210
Total 2,322

DONATION SITES
Children and Family Urban Movement 120
Johnston Food Pantry 172
Trinity Las Americas UMC 955
West DM Food Pantry 1,075
Total 2,322

Become a Garden Volunteer

Plenty of volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday, starting around 9 a.m. with time out for lunch and then again in the afternoon. No experience necessary. Text Mark at 515-988-5381 to let him know you are coming to aid in our planning.

When volunteering in the garden, wear clothes that can get dirty, and dress for the weather. Bring garden gloves if you have them; otherwise we can provide them. We have the tools you will need.

Another Successful Warm Weather Vegetable Plant Giveaway

On May 3 and 4, we gave away more than 3,000 vegetable starts—tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, melons and herbs (mainly parsley, thyme, basil, fennel, dill). Thanks to all who helped, and good luck to all the gardeners throughout the community.

Planting Update

So far we have planted over 1500 cabbage plants. We are now in the process of planting 1000 tomato plants. After that, we will plant 1000 pepper plants. We use a multi-step process. First we cut a hole in the plastic sheeting. Then we use a bulb spade bit to dig the hole. After that, volunteers place the plant in the hole and cover up the roots. Then we water the new plants individually.

Can You help? We Are Always in Need of Volunteers.

Plenty of volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday, starting around 9 a.m. with time out for lunch and then again in the afternoon. No experience necessary. Text Mark at 515-988-5381 to let him know you are coming and to volunteer and aid in our planning.

When volunteering in the garden, wear clothes that can get dirty and dress for the weather. Bring garden gloves if you have them; otherwise we can provide them. We have the tools you will need.

Bill Summers,
Dedicated Garden Volunteer, Dies

Stalwart volunteer and great friend of the Faith & Grace Garden, Bill Summers, died on Tuesday, March 25, after a long illness.

As a scientist and businessman, Bill traveled the world. Upon retiring he enjoyed many interests including painting with watercolors, playing music, and cooking with the love of his life, Robin Kline. He was always a free-thinker, and we were so fortunate that Bill also loved our little gardening community. He will be sorely missed.

Bill’s funeral service will be at Hamilton’s funeral home in West Des Moines at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. The family will greet guests following the service.

In Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones, a little late but no less heartfelt! We hope you’re enjoying this time of thanks and reflection.

During this season of gratitude, we find ourselves reflecting on all the amazing people that make the Faith & Grace Garden possible — like you! Whether you’ve supported the Garden with a gift, or volunteered your time, thank you for being a part of this inspiring community.

All the turnips are now harvested.

The greenhouse produces about 20 pounds of bush beans each week.

Harvest Update
A record 36,692 pounds!

The harvest is nearly complete. We have some hearty greens like collards and brussel sprouts to pick in the garden and green beans are thriving in the greenhouse.

This year, so far, we have harvested a record 36,692 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables which were donated to feed local hungry people. We exceeded our previous record of 33,180 pounds, which was set in 2023.

Special thanks to volunteers from First Interstate Bank for helping us to get the garden ready for winter.

Volunteer opportunities in the greenhouse will start in March. Volunteer opportunities in the garden will start in April. Thank you for your help!