Church group sows seeds for garden efforts

Cheryl Besenjak looks out over rows of green beans and tomato plants to see families gardening together.

She sees Bible study groups, a children's garden, teams of volunteers, even a gazebo area where people sit back, relax and watch the harvesting.

Right now she's just got those beans and tomatoes. Plus some squash and eggplants.

But she's planting ideas in her mind for the future.

"We've already got a vision for next year," Besenjak says.

She and a team of other volunteers planted a 50-by-130-foot garden this spring at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington that will keep fresh produce flowing to the church food pantry through the fall.

The group already has harvested and donated several hundred pounds of food in the span of just one short month - and in the middle of a drought. And they hope their enthusiasm, hard work and success is an example that leads the way for others to follow.

They are using their new Giving Garden project to get others involved with the food pantry, involve church members interested in gardening and give more members the idea they can use extras from their garden to help those in need.

Besenjak said that next year they'd like to invite people from ministries at the church to participate, and they would even like to expand the size of the garden.

She envisions raised garden beds families can adopt for the summer where they learn about the Biblical concept of giving their "first fruits" of what they grow to the food pantry to help others who are less fortunate.

"We had plans to do more this year but we ran out of time," Besenjak said. After all, gardening chores beckoned.

There's always next year.

Since 2000, church member Agnes Burkus has tended a small plot on the property, donating everything she grew to the food pantry.

"Every open inch, she wants to put something in so somebody has something to eat," said Susan Thomas, as she worked her way down a row of beans.

This spring, a whole new crew joined Burkus and they expanded the effort fourfold. The garden includes more than 50 tomato plants, innumerable squash and cucumber vines, rows of eggplant and peppers.

Greg Thomas, who works on the church grounds crew, is the resident handyman, rigs up whatever the group needs. He built a cold frame this spring to house tomatoes and protect them from early frost.

Just recently, he constructed a teepee from PVC pipes and chicken wire on which green bean vines can grow. It's a fun project kids can try and it's one of the many things they're experimenting with this year as they expand and grow the garden in the future.

"We have big dreams," she said.

If you'd like more information about the garden team working at Willow Creek, or the church food pantry, contact Besenjak at (224) 512-1872.

The Daily Herald Giving Garden program is collecting surplus fruits and vegetables for area food pantries and soup kitchens; the program continues through Oct. 1.