Garden Details
Garden Details
The St. Francis de Sales Jubilee Garden, opened in 1998, continues to be a source of nourishment and community care. Since its beginning, volunteers have grown and harvested thousands of pounds of fresh produce, all donated directly to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Every seed planted represents not only food for the body but also kindness for the soul.v
Garden Practices
Garden Practices
Organic, raised beds
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, zucchini, carrots, lettuce, kale, spinach, radishes, onions, and herbs such as basil and parsley.
Every year we’re blessed by gardeners who plant more seeds than they need and generously donate their extra seedlings to the Jubilee Garden. In 2025 alone, parishioners and the Advocate Smart Farm in Barrington contributed more than 100 plants for us to grow and share. Our volunteers are primarily parishioners, with wonderful help from Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and high school students earning service credits. Together, they make the garden thrive! 🌱✨
Additional Information
Additional Information
Some of our biggest challenges in the Jubilee Garden come from nature itself. The heat and the need to keep the soil consistently hydrated are especially tough early in the season, when seeds and young sprouts are most vulnerable. We also battle pests and fungus. It’s not unusual for our squash plants to develop powdery mildew, which weakens them over time. Even more destructive is the squash vine borer, which pierces the leaves, stems, and fruits to drain the plant’s juices. One day the squash looks healthy, and the next it’s wilting despite careful watering — until you look closer and find the culprit. That’s when it’s time to release the ladybugs! 🐞
🌱 The Jubilee Garden is always looking for helping hands! We do all our weeding by hand and use only organic, OMRI-certified products. From spring planting, to summer watering and maintenance, to harvesting in mid-to-late July, there’s always a way to get involved. Volunteers make the garden grow! 🌿✨
🍅 Garden Moment: Cherry Tomato Surprise
The year we planted just two rows of cherry tomatoes, we harvested nearly 300 pounds! Every basketful went to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — proof that even small plantings can bring an abundance.
