Environmental Care

Good things grow when we work together.

Vineyard Community Center’s Environmental Care program brings people together to learn, serve, and take practical steps toward caring well for the earth and our shared community. Rooted in our Christian commitment to care for creation and our neighbors, we offer educational gatherings, hands-on activities, and opportunities to practice environmental stewardship.

In partnership with the City of Columbus, we also tend two community garden plots where volunteers grow and harvest fresh produce to share through our food pantry and with neighbors. We partner with organizations including the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) and A Rocha USA to create opportunities for learning, connection, and action.

A garden bed became an opportunity for a family to grow their own food. When a neighbor experiencing financial challenges asked whether she could use a garden bed, our team happened to have one available. Volunteers welcomed the family into the garden, helped them get started, and shared extra plants they could grow. The family left excited about growing fresh vegetables, saving money, and becoming part of the garden community.

Caring for our community can be something the whole family does together. During a garden cleanup, one family came out to serve together. Before leaving, a parent shared how much their children had loved working in the garden and how grateful they were to find a meaningful place where their family could volunteer side by side. It was exactly what we hope our gardens can become: places where people of all ages can care for the earth, serve their neighbors, and build community together.

“Is the produce for sale?” A mother and daughter stopped by one of our community gardens and asked if they could purchase some of the produce. When they learned it was free, they were thrilled. With limited funds, fresh produce wasn’t always easy to fit into their budget. They gathered vegetables, explored the garden, and shared how peaceful it felt simply to spend time there. What started as a garden visit became an unexpected experience of provision, welcome, and connection.