All Saint's Episcopal Church, Smyrna, Tennessee, was on the verge of selling some of the 22 Acres of land next to the church until a recently arrived group of immigrants from Myanmar showed up. These Anglicans, part of an ethnic minority known as the Karen, as a group moved into the neighborhood and immediately began worshiping, in their own language, at All Saint's. Although they soon found jobs in the community to support their families, they asked the church if they could farm some of the parcel of unused land next to the church.
You see, the Karen are an agricultural people, and growing things is something they do well. "They derive a measure of dignity by being able to do what they are best at," said the vicar. "That allows the church to extend to them the grace of helping them (but not) keeping them dependent on a handout ministry" (source).
Kurios Farm provides food for the Karen and also provides extra income for the church's ministries. They've only be open for one season and have had tremendous success.
I'm not aware of many programs in the Diocese of Toronto like this, but it makes a lot of sense. I do know that St. Thomas' has a garden that grows fresh veggies for the Out of The Cold Program. As for others--let me know if you've heard of anything.
Unfortunately we don't have the room at COTM to do much. Perhaps if ever do a major renovation we could make the flat roof into a green roof. But I am looking forward to putting down a nice garden out back when the spring comes!
-t
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