Six years ago, Tom Clayton started a straw bale garden in a neighbor’s yard but due to lack of sunshine, it wasn’t an ideal location. Three years later, Clayton decided to move the garden to his church, the Faubion United Methodist Church in Gladstone, MO, which provided better sunshine but still had room to improve.

Prior to planting this year’s garden at Faubion UMC, a co-worker of Clayton’s suggested contacting Kansas City Community Gardens to help out the garden this year and he wasn’t disappointed. KCCG’s Community Partner Gardens Coordinator, Sharon Goldstein, assisted Clayton with resources, tips, ideas, encouragement, and even provided several Kale recipes!

“Our community garden has been able to purchase high quality seeds and plants at incredibly good prices (from KCCG).  In the future we hope to secure additional supplies and resources to grow and improve.  A co-worker suggested that I check out the KCCG and we have sure appreciated that suggestion!   
– Tom Clayton

With church administrators and members helping out with the community garden, Faubion UMC has been able to enjoy broccoli, cabbage, kale, collard greens, peppers, cucumbers and green beans with tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash and melons on the way.

With the successful harvest, Clayton and other church members shared the bounty with the congregation.

Early each Sunday morning I try to go to the garden to harvest whatever is ready and put it out in the Fellowship Hall for our congregation to take.  The Faubion UMC congregation is mostly elderly and they have been really appreciative of the fresh produce.  The garden also provided cabbage for the cole slaw at Faubion’s June Community Dinner.
– Tom Clayton 

The garden has also sparked curiosity in the neighborhood.

When we are working at the garden we have also had community members stop by to ask questions and that has given us the opportunity to share fresh produce with these folks as well.
– Tom Clayton

KCCG would like to thank Tom Clayton and the Faubion United Methodist Church for contacting us and for all their hard work in providing fresh garden produce to their community!