The committee of the Mustard Seed Cooperative Garden – hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown – will hold a painting party fundraiser at the church on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m.
This year’s event will help the committee raise funds for the garden’s seeds, soil and supplies. Artist Alex Wilkie will lead everyone in painting a still life or scene from the church grounds, and participants will each be provided a canvas and acrylic paint sets.
“It’s just a fun class,” Spencer said. “You don’t have to have any prior experience painting or making art. (Alex) chooses a fairly simple scene that is something that a beginner could paint, and then he walks us through, step by step.”
The Mustard Seed Cooperative Garden – now in its third growing season – provides fresh food to promote the well being of the community. All produce is donated to two primary groups: the Ministerium Food Pantry at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church on Chester Avenue and the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church meal delivery program.
“It’s all run by volunteers from the church and the community,” Spencer noted of the garden. “Community members are welcome to volunteer and help us to plant and tend the garden and harvest and deliver the food.”
The garden’s committee implemented a strategy last year for crop selection, planting and maintenance that maximized the output of in-demand vegetables, among other accomplishments. This year, the committee plans to grow its network of helpers and volunteers to support the increasing amounts of food being produced by the garden, and plans are in the works to hire a paid summer intern to help in planting and maintaining the garden and with scheduling and mentoring a larger team of volunteers to harvest produce, among other goals.
“Our overall mission of the garden is to really put our faith in action,” Spencer explained. “To really be expressing the love of Jesus Christ to our neighbors, and one way we can do that is by feeding our neighbors, particularly those who really could use some help and some support.”
Reservations are required for the painting party fundraiser and space is limited to 10 people. Register with Leslie Spencer, the Mustard Seed Cooperative Garden coordinator, through the church office at (856) 235-1688 by Sunday to reserve a spot.
For more information about the garden, visit www.fpcmoorestown.org.
