Roots & Wings
Tapping into the roots of our spiritual and agricultural traditions … giving wings to a sustainable future for our children and our planet
We look for ways to support sustainability–from growing food to composting, connection and community. We are not experts—we are learning by doing, as well as from people who are further on the path of “people care, earth care and fair share.” Each step of the process is open to all. We meet quarterly, dates to come. Join us!
Steering Committee: Marta Dospiva Legan, Steering Committee Leader; Lenore Person, Greg Rosen, Els Vandenbosch and MJ Wilson. Contact us here (email to come)
Our Gardens and Programs
CSA with Deep Roots Farm
18 weeks of farm-fresh produce / June 22- October 19, with distribution behind South Church on Mondays, 5:30 – 7 pm
A partnership with Deep Roots, an organic farm near Hudson, NY. Our mission is to provide our local community access to affordable, high-quality, fruit and vegetables through a supportive relationship with a regional organic farmer.
18 weeks of farm-fresh produce / June 22- October 19
Pick ups are Monday evenings, in the parking lot behind South Church, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Extras available for non members, too.
Kitchen Garden
Saturdays: 10 am – 1 pm: Community gardening at the Kitchen Garden, located behind South Church, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Grow food for yourself and for the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry in an established, irrigated garden with great sun, soil and spirit of community! There are 8 private beds, plus community plots for the Pantry. Gardeners work together on Saturday mornings. Garden Steward Els will be there 10 – 1. (May – October). Contact garden steward Els
“New members have brought fresh energy to the garden, and two families have small kids who love to help out,” said Els. “Their beds are thriving, and they help out with the Pantry beds, harvest, or give some of their harvest away to the Pantry.”
Labyrinth Pollinator Garden
Located in front of South Church at 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. This is Roots & Wings first garden, a native pollinator spiral meant to bring peace, provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds, and encourage homeowners to turn front lawns into pollinator-friendly gardens. Contact garden manager Roubi
Manse Garden
Fridays, 4-5 pm, Apr-Nov: Community gardening at the Manse Garden, located behind The Manse on South’s campus, at 363 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Participate in certified veganic (vegan-organic) gardening, where no livestock inputs or artificial chemicals are used. Plots are communal and harvests are shared. Other days and times may also be available after orientation. Contact garden manager Greg
“Despite limited sunlight and no automated irrigation, it has been possible to grow an increasing amount of vegetables using 100% vegan-organic methods,” said Greg. “We build soil by composting leaves, crop residue, spent coffee grounds, vegan kitchen scraps and woodchips.”
Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share
Roots & Wings is a natural outgrowth of South Church’s ministry of welcome. The congregation’s mission statement is “None of the lines which divide us outside of these walls apply.” South embodies this by welcoming homed and homeless, gay and straight, rich and poor, members and non-members. Roots & Wings broadens this further by beginning to erase lines between those who find God within the walls of the church and those find her in the garden.
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Roots and Wings was seeded by the Vision 2020 Fund of the Hudson River Presbytery.
View our legacy website here. Note that the information is not current.
