In early spring, seven-year-old Corita enthusiastically planted vegetable seeds in her grandfather’s raised garden boxes from seed packets she had placed in Papa’s Christmas stocking. Where winter greens had grown, lines of twine now defined rows for carrots, lettuce, mustard greens, parsnips and spinach; poppy seeds were scattered around the edges. Corn and eggplant seeds went into seedling packs. When Corita visits she inspects the maturing vegetables awaiting the time to harvest, share and eat.

God’s earth and the relationships that surround us provide a laboratory for learning the deep truths of life. A goal of The Abundant Table is to grow healthy communities that respect the integrity of the earth and the dignity of people. It starts with sowing seeds in eager minds and hearts.

Sarah Baggé, an alumna of The Abundant Table intern program recently wrote this

reflection: “It’s hard to think of an area of my life where I didn’t experience change and growth during my year at The Abundant Table. Living with the other interns and inviting the community into our home taught me about hospitality and generosity and grace. Growing and selling veggies taught me how to eat well and gave me a passion for gardening and sharing good food. The Abundant Table faith community and our opportunities to learn … gave me grounding in the peace and justice traditions of the Bible. I loved my year as an intern and am deeply grateful for the people who made that year possible.”

As children and young adults mature, we hope the values of caring and giving are imbedded in their character. Your past support of the The Abundant Table as a donor and/or CSA member demonstrates your own commitment to creating healthy communities and developing youth and young adult leaders that live out these values.

This season, as spring matures into summer, we invite you to join us as we celebrate the final months of our 2012-2013 intern class and mark a successful year of farming at our new location in Santa Paula.

Every season brings new joys and emerging opportunities, and as these joys and opportunities grow, so does our need for your help. To continue offering such transformative internship experiences for young adults, hands on education for youth, and to keep growing healthy and nutritious veggies with love, your donation and/or CSA membership are essential.

We cannot do this work without your support. Please consider a financial donation to help us meet the following needs:

• o   Used Refrigerated truck or van to keep veggies fresh and delicious during hot summer months

• o   Seasonal CSA Memberships for impoverished families

• o   Stipends and benefits for Abundant Table interns.

• o   Cost of transportation for public school students to visit the farm.

• o   A monthly pledge to sustain our staff and programs.

Also, consider joining the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) if you are local to Ventura County or buying a membership for a friend. For more information about CSA gift subscriptions, see http://csa.farmigo.com/join/jointhefarm or call CSA Coordinator Erynn Smith at (805) 910-5642.

Again, you are an essential part of The Abundant Table and its life changing work.

To make a tax-deductible donation to The Abundant Table, please use the enclosed card and envelope or go to our website and click the donate link: www.theabundanttable.org .