Using the Square Foot Gardening technique with raised beds, we intensely use our space. We are 100% organic. We grow both horizontally and vertically on the 10′ trellises. The gardens are gridded off in one foot squares (hence the name) and each square has at least two and often three different types of produce grown per season – as soon as one crop is harvested, another is planted. We use a unique non-native soil (“Mel’s Mix”) made up of approximately equal thirds peat moss, vermiculite, and compost. We only renew the compost each year as the other components are slow to degrade. We have auto watering with four different zones. We extend our season in Minnesota by planting under 3mm plastic greenhouses. We are normally able to have Spring crops planted in late February or early March (versus May for traditional gardens), and usually have our first harvest in April. The soil is very light compared to black dirt, so we do not need any tools other than hand shovels and clippers. With the intensity of growth (the gardens end up being solid green), weeds are mostly choked out and can be cleared out with minimal effort. We grow to the needs of our local food pantry (with whom we meet regularly) and tailor our crops to the needs of the food insecure clients they serve. We have provided just about 2000 pounds of produce per year to our neighbors in need, much of which is very light (for example radishes, spinach, snap peas and bok choy predominate in the Spring). We have our parishioners save the “clamshell” containers from produce they have purchase, and reuse those containers (with a neon over-label) to package our fresh, organic produce. When we deliver to the food pantry, they immediately put out the veggies with no additional labor. Our veggies are usually gone in a short time. Parishioners also bring us excess produce from their home gardens which we add to that from our giving garden.