CSAC Vegetable Garden

Since 2016 Temple Emanuel volunteers gather throughout the summer to grow a varied harvest.

Everything is donated to the Shepherd’s Table homeless shelter in downtown Silver Spring. In 2025 we delivered more than 420 pounds!

Volunteers meet every Sunday morning from April through October, usually 9-11am. Mid-week watering is provided by volunteers as needed.

New (experienced or novice) gardeners are ALWAYS welcome. Please let us know if you will be there!

Ian DeWaal and Matt Koch, Co-Community Garden Coordinators

(301) 801 6637 (Ian’s cell)

2013: Temple Emanuel’s Community Social Action Council (CSAC) was conceived by the Board of Trustees to support and supplement our congregation’s existing social justice and action activities, while advancing new initiatives within our community.
2014: The community food bank garden was proposed.
2016: The garden is launched! The Religious Action Center (“RAC”) awarded a “Travel Justly” grant in the amount of $500 for our proposal to garden and educate congregants about eating locally. The award letter stated: “We were inspired by your congregation’s commitment to the environment and forward thinking on adopting sustainable practices. Mazel Tov!”
2016: The first cover-crop of winter grains was planted, naturally replenishing nutrients and stabilizing the soil.
2017: A deer fence is installed and after a late first planting in July our first harvests – 63 pounds! – were delivered.
2018: Volunteers hold the first plant sale of pansies and tomatoes to raise funds for the garden. Almost 80 pounds of vegetables are donated over the season.
2019: Over 212 pounds of vegetables donated!
2021: Nearly doubled the size of the garden.

As Passover is being commemorated, the garden gets underway. Fence repairs, cleanup, and planting bed prep are completed before we can start planting
Weed and transplant cold-weather seedlings (cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce) and plant mustard greens, collards and kale

Transplant eggplant, Asian eggplant, bell peppers, jalepenos, Thai peppers, brassicas, Thai basil, basil, tomatoes and okra
Plant pole beans and asparagus beans and greens
Re-stake the bed borders with bamboo and stake tomatoes
Host plant fundraiser to purchase additional supplies
Lots of weeding!
First harvests of lettuce and raddish

In a good year, this is when the garden is growing like gangbusters!
Harvest Swiss chard, zucchini, broccoli, Italian basil, Thai basil, cabbage, Asian string beans and cucumber
Tie up staked tomatoes, peppers, eggplants

Final Harvests
Winterization, including placing black plastic on most of the beds to kill the weeds during the off-season and increase warmth leading to more successful spring planting