Salmon Creek church grows garden to feed nearby residents

Salmon Creek — The Salmon Creek United Methodist Church started a community garden in 2012, after the pastor chatted with the manager of a nearby manufactured home park and heard the residents don’t have access to fresh, affordable produce. So the church built 12 raised beds; this year they doubled that. Tomatoes, squash, lemon cucumbers, green beans, cilantro and peppers are among the garden’s main crops, which the church group would distribute in the residents every Saturday morning. “It took a few weeks before the residents trusted that we would be back the next week,” said organizer Carol Peterson. “We also took boxes of used books which adults and children appreciated. Some of the women would share recipes.” This year the church will team up with the new Chuck’s Produce store in the area to add other foods to its fresh-from-the-soil offerings.