Members and volunteers at The Brook are nurturing their faith as they grow vegetables in their community garden.

“The first official work (and fun) day at The Brook Community Garden was April 7,” coordinator David Connell said. “We tilled and prepared to plant the garden on April 21 during ‘Serving the City as One,'” a day of service by Madison County churches.

Connell encourages anyone to help. “Whether you know anything about gardening or not, you’re welcome to join in. Just grab some gloves, a hat, a rake, a hoe or a bucket and come on out,” he said.

Volunteers also can help with installing a fabric gazebo near the garden for a shady place to rest.

“We do have another piece of land to work this year,” Connell said. “To bring that into the garden project, it will take all this spring and into the summer.”

This fall, he hopes to plant turnip greens and collards on the new plot. “We’ll get it in good shape for next spring,” Connell said.

Last year, the garden produced tomatoes, zucchini, squash, okra, green beans and bell peppers growing in a plot 50 yards square.

The Brook families who are facing tough economic situations receive most of the vegetables. The Angel Food ministry also uses the produce, and, if the yield allows, the church donates food to Inside-Out Ministries.

The Brook was ‘planted’ in 1998 by Willowbrook Baptist Church in Huntsville, lead pastor Rev. Brian Mayfield said. The church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Sunday worship services are held at 9 and 10:45 a.m. with preschool and children’s activities during those hours. Youth and adult study groups meet through the week.

Located at 8573 U.S. 72 W., The Brook owns 18 acres in western Madison. For more information about The Brook, call 256-837-6633, visit thebrookchurch.com Facebook/The Brook and Twitter.

For details about the community garden, call Connell at 256-682-5535 or send email to dfconnell@yahoo.com.