KAROLYN AND JOHN BARNES ORGANIC GARDEN AT LENNON-SENEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The story of the Karolyn and John Barnes Organic Garden at Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church at 2084 Dandridge Ave., Knoxville, TN 37915, is quite typical of the position that many churches, particularly in the inner city and in East Knoxville, find themselves in. They have land and, in many cases, once had thriving community gardens. However, over time, the membership has aged, and consequently so has its health problems, and like so many churches there are fewer young people amongst its members. The community garden that once flourished becomes neglected and overgrown with weeds for lack of volunteers with the ability to maintain the garden.
Such was the case with the Karolyn and John Barnes Organic Garden at Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church. The Barnes and other members of the Church had just gotten to the point physically where they could not continue to maintain a substantial in-ground community garden.
Fortunately, Bessie Madison, on behalf of the older Adult Ministry of the Church, sought help and found it on the Alliance’s website. On November 13, 2023, she submitted an application to become a member of the Alliance. The following day a meeting was scheduled at the site with the Alliance for November 28. At that time a representative of the Alliance met with Bessie and Rev. Dr. Samuel Dzobo, Corliss Tate, John Barnes, Karolyn Barnes, Vickie Brandt, Dave Brandt, Lloyd Niro, and George Staffney.
As a result of that meeting and discussion, the Alliance took measurements and laid out a design to convert the former in-ground organic garden into 22 4’ x 8’ raised beds. The Trustees of the Church unanimously approved the design and installation by the Alliance on December 15, 2023.
Following that approval and the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Alliance purchased and delivered enough 10’ long 2” x 12” lumber to actually make 23 beds. The Alliance assembled 9 of the beds and Church members, led by Gary Johnson, assembled the other 14 beds. The Alliance then provided 24 cubic yards of soil (1/2 loam and 1/2 mushroom compost), which Church members then placed in the beds.
Today the 23 beds have been planted and all 23 adopted by members of the Church and/or the community. As Bessie Madison wrote in an email on April 11, 2024, “the Alliance has been the life blood of this chapter in our raised bed gardening adventure. Candidly, we would not have accomplished so much so fast without the assistance of the Alliance; thank you.”
You and your church or organization can also become a member of the Alliance and receive assistance to upgrade your community garden, install a new raised bed garden, and/or just receive assistance and information about the maintenance and production of your garden. All you have to do is contact the Alliance.
