Farm stand season returns to Garden at St. Francis

We have a responsibility, to our families, friends, and neighbors, and to those who come after us, who will inherit this land and this earth long after we were gone.”

The Rev. Grace Flint, St. Francis Church

It’s been a busy couple weeks for the Garden at St. Francis in North Bellmore.

Throughout the spring nd into the beginning of summer, garden volunteers led by Kristin Talbot, the garden’s manager, have been hard at work preparing the bustling hidden farm behind the unsuspecting church for its first farm stand of the season.

The garden celebrated Pollinator Day on June 24, by hosting activities all day long that reflected the mission of the garden and its outreach efforts.

Pollinator Day is part of the more expansive Pollinator Week, celebrated annually during the last full week of June. It raises awareness for pollinators and spreads the word about what people can do to protect them, and how pollinators contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Talbot introduced the celebration to the garden last year, and its been in full bloom ever since.

“Pollinator Partnership is a national organization, built by people who are trying to spread resources and knowledge about pollinators, to people who are just living in their neighborhoods that are interested in protecting pollinators, farmers like us, (and) people who are turning to land management and have acres and acres in preservation,” Talbot explained last year. “They’re a really great resource.”

At this year’s celebration, volunteers and attendees helped THRIVE Long Island, a recovery community and outreach center plant a recovery garden. THRIVE also hosted a free Narcan training.

Tours of the garden’s new memorial garden, designed by intern Lily Yepez and Girl Scout Julia Amon, were also held. And it wouldn’t have been Pollinator Day without talks of pollinators — there were plenty of classes during the day revolving around pollinator health, as well as a question-and-answer session with the garden’s beekeeper.

Vegetables were harvested for the first farm stand which took place the following day on June 25.

Though the Garden at St. Francis is affiliated with the Episcopal Ministries of Long Island, it is open to everyone, regardless of age, background, ability or religious affiliation.

“But even if you are not a Christian,” the church’s spiritual leader the Rev. Grace Flint said during her homily on June 24, “or if you are a person of no faith at all, I believe we can all agree on this quote from a prayer: ‘our common life depends on each other’s toil.’

“We have a responsibility, to our families, friends, and neighbors, and to those who come after us, who will inherit this land and this earth long after we were gone,” she added. “We have a responsibility to care for the pollinators that sustain life on earth, and to do everything we can do to sustain their life in return. Just as a few loaves and fish fed a multitude of people we too can make a big difference starting in a very small way.”

Weekly farm stands take place at 11 a.m. on Sundays, either outside the church or inside its meeting hall depending on the weather. The church is located at 1692 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore. For more, contact (516) 679-1184.