The expanded community garden ministry at Grace UMC includes a fence to keep the deer out and some raised boxes. Photos courtesy of Pastor John Britt, Grace UMC.

"Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see believes in God." A quote from Prairey Walkling, a South Dakota State University Extension Family and Community Health Field Specialist based in Rapid City, and a member at Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont, South Dakota. Walkling and members of the congregation are reaching the next person for Jesus by expanding their community garden. Deb Holland, a reporter with the Black Hills Pioneer, details the expansion in this story. 

PIEDMONT — A youth mission trip to the Seattle area seven years ago planted a seed which has blossomed into a thriving garden ministry for Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont.

Don Hilton served as a chaperone on the mission trip which took participants to various locations around Seattle for service work. One of the locations was a community garden.

“I started thinking about our church here in Piedmont and how we have 10 acres of land around the church,” said Hilton, a retired Rapid City Area Schools teacher.

The year after the mission trip, Hilton and other volunteers created a 30-foot by 30-foot garden. In the years since, it has grown to 30 by 120 feet.

Grace United Methodist Pastor John Britt said talk of building on that ministry by offering a community garden began last year. He spoke with Piedmont city officials to gauge interest in such an endeavor. They believed there would be interest, so the church forged ahead.

“Originally, it was just going to be a 60 by 60 with 12 plots,” he said. 

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