The Blessed Sacrament Community Garden continues to make wonderful progress as the 2026 growing season gets underway.

Several additional plants have recently been added to the pollinator garden located in the center cross of the raised beds. We have also planted cucumbers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and radishes. While some vegetables are thriving, others are struggling a bit, so adjustments are currently being made to the soil mix to improve growing conditions throughout the garden.

The next phase of the project will focus on developing the Mary Garden and central gathering spaces.

Pathways

Concrete pathways were selected for durability and long-term maintenance.

Before pathway construction begins, the following will be installed:

• Irrigation system
• Garden lighting

Walking Path Decision

After reviewing the property layout more closely, the planning team decided not to install a full walking path around the entire garden property.

The idea was discussed during the meeting, but when the group evaluated the space — including the fence setback, the width needed for sidewalks, and the fact that the driveway would also require concrete — it became clear that a full perimeter path would take up a significant amount of usable space.

Several factors influenced this decision:

• The primary mission of the garden is gathering, meditation, and worship rather than exercise
• Oaks Field next door already provides a large and appropriate walking area
• Installing full concrete paths would reduce space available for the gazebo/firepit gathering area and the open grass play space, both of which were strong priorities for the parish

For now, concrete will be limited to the entrance pathway and the Mary Garden area.

If future use of the space shows that additional walking paths would be helpful, a simple gravel or mulch path could easily be added later.

The Mary Garden will serve as the spiritual centerpiece of the community garden.

The design has been revised to create a circular gathering space around the statue, allowing room for benches and a walking rosary path.

Statue Selected

The committee selected a statue of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.

• Height: 6 feet
• Origin: Italy
• Estimated cost for statue and grotto installation: $6,000–$8,000

The bulk of the planting for the Rain Garden is complete for 2026.
Plants need to be monitored to see how each species handles their situation.

Every plant is labeled and there is an information sheet about rain gardens on site.

A mature rain garden can handle both times of frequent rainfall and dry conditions, both of
which typically occur in a year’s precipitation cycle.

“Rain Gardens, also known as bioretention cells, are a beautiful way to manage stormwater on
site. A rain garden is a constructed depression in the soil that ranges from a few inches to several
feet in depth, depending on the amount of area that drains into the rain garden. The depression is
filled with an engineered soil mixture that allows water to percolate quickly. The garden is then
planted with shrubs and flowers that “drink” up the stormwater.” -wvdep.gov

https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/stormwater/MS4/green/raingarden/Pages/default.aspx

To keep the garden organized and safe, several operating guidelines have been established.

Vegetable Sharing

• A produce cart will be placed outside the garden gate so parishioners and neighbors may take vegetables.

Garden Access

• A combination lock will be installed on the pedestrian gate.
• The double gate will remain locked except when contractor access is needed.

Current estimated project costs include:

• Mary Garden Phase One: $18,000 to $20,000
• Funds currently available: $3,200

Fundraising efforts will get underway to support the next stages of the garden.

To help keep everyone informed and organized, the garden team will use the Flocknote app for volunteer communication.

Flocknote will allow us to easily share updates, schedule workdays, and coordinate volunteers as the garden continues to grow. Instead of long email chains, volunteers will receive simple messages or reminders about upcoming projects, planting days, and maintenance needs.

Through Flocknote, volunteers will be able to:

• Receive garden updates and announcements

• Sign up for workdays and volunteer opportunities

• Join specific garden teams (planting, maintenance, fundraising, etc.)

• Receive weather updates or schedule changes

• Help coordinate the weekly garden care rotation

Our goal is to make volunteering easy, flexible, and well organized, while making sure everyone who wants to help has a way to stay connected with what is happening in the garden.

If you are interested in volunteering but are not yet connected through Flocknote, we would be happy to help you sign up and get started. 🌿