Grow forth

Raised gardens are equipped with cage enclosures to keep the peacocks out.
Raised gardens are equipped with cage enclosures to keep the peacocks out. KERRY FIRTH PHOTOS

Community garden germinated from seed of compassion

BY KERRY FIRTH

Jeff Smith, a retired USDA employee, is one of the valuable volunteers at the community garden.
Jeff Smith, a retired USDA employee, is one of the valuable volunteers at the community garden.

It started with a low-income retiree struggling to grow a garden behind a church parking lot. What has blossomed is a thriving community garden that provides fresh vegetables to about 1,000 people each week. A trustee from First United Methodist Church of Fort Pierce noticed the retiree wasn’t having much success and tried to help. One small act of kindness set everything in motion.