Tending the Garden is a unique perspective and approach nurturing of Christian spirituality using the garden and gardening as a metaphor. Marshall and Julie Welch combine their experience and expertise in spiritual formation and gardening as an invitation to tending to one�s spirituality. Whether an experienced or novice gardener, the reader will gain insight not only into the art of gardening, but Christian spirituality as well. Spirituality is presented as a relational way to grow compassion and sensitivity to self, others, the environment, and to God. The book can be read individually or as a small book club group. Guidelines for facilitating a small group discussion are presented in the introduction. Part I consists of 14 short, engaging chapters, with titles such as �Weeding: Spiritual Discernment,� �Manure Happens: Desolation and Consolation,� and �Thank You Very Mulch: Our Spiritual Security Blanket.� The narrative is written in a very conversational voice. Each chapter begins with scripture and an inspirational quote and concludes with a series of reflection questions as well as tips on how to �cultivate� one�s spirituality. The �tips� are easy-to-do activities that are grounded in a long tradition of spiritual exercises presented in a contemporary context. In Part II, the authors also use their experience as co-coordinators of a community garden in their own church congregation to present step-by-step suggestions on how other communities of faith can start and maintain their own garden. Church gardens are introduced as a unique form of spiritual formation through a sense of community with other gardeners and a form of mission and ministry.

Tending the Garden is a unique perspective and approach nurturing of Christian spirituality using the garden and gardening as a metaphor. Marshall and Julie Welch combine their experience and expertise in spiritual formation and gardening as an invitation to tending to one�s spirituality. Whether an experienced or novice gardener, the reader will gain insight not only into the art of gardening, but Christian spirituality as well. Spirituality is presented as a relational way to grow compassion and sensitivity to self, others, the environment, and to God. The book can be read individually or as a small book club group. Guidelines for facilitating a small group discussion are presented in the introduction. Part I consists of 14 short, engaging chapters, with titles such as �Weeding: Spiritual Discernment,� �Manure Happens: Desolation and Consolation,� and �Thank You Very Mulch: Our Spiritual Security Blanket.� The narrative is written in a very conversational voice. Each chapter begins with scripture and an inspirational quote and concludes with a series of reflection questions as well as tips on how to �cultivate� one�s spirituality. The �tips� are easy-to-do activities that are grounded in a long tradition of spiritual exercises presented in a contemporary context. In Part II, the authors also use their experience as co-coordinators of a community garden in their own church congregation to present step-by-step suggestions on how other communities of faith can start and maintain their own garden. Church gardens are introduced as a unique form of spiritual formation through a sense of community with other gardeners and a form of mission and ministry.

American agriculture has long been the most productive agricultural center in the world, producing key food and fiber ingredients for the rest of the world. But agriculture has been attacked on many fronts as being a polluting, environmentally unfriendly, big multinational corporation–dominated industry. Over time, those charges have been repeated enough that they are believed by the American public. Like all industries, you can always find examples of abuses and mistakes. However, the truth is most often much different than what has been reported in the media. In this book, we wish to draw attention to the agriculture that we see on a daily basis. In particular, agriculture is family oriented, with families making up the clear preponderance of American agriculture. We will shed light on the diversity of production systems, business strategies, and roles of support industries through a series of personal stories and pictures. These stories reflect a microcosm of the broader world of farming, ranching, and agribusiness through the very personal stories of the families, businesses, and communities involved in feeding and clothing the world. We focus on the Texas High Plains because it is a diverse production area, with many crops and livestock operations, organic and conventional farming, conservation techniques, and broad array of business structures that can serve to inform and educate about the true American agriculture. And while we hope you learn something about where your food and fiber come from, we also hope that you can come to feel the love these people have for their way of life and appreciate their struggle. First, we want to lay the groundwork so the readers can appreciate the material in this book and dispel a few myths about agriculture along the way.

American agriculture has long been the most productive agricultural center in the world, producing key food and fiber ingredients for the rest of the world. But agriculture has been attacked on many fronts as being a polluting, environmentally unfriendly, big multinational corporation–dominated industry. Over time, those charges have been repeated enough that they are believed by the American public. Like all industries, you can always find examples of abuses and mistakes. However, the truth is most often much different than what has been reported in the media. In this book, we wish to draw attention to the agriculture that we see on a daily basis. In particular, agriculture is family oriented, with families making up the clear preponderance of American agriculture. We will shed light on the diversity of production systems, business strategies, and roles of support industries through a series of personal stories and pictures. These stories reflect a microcosm of the broader world of farming, ranching, and agribusiness through the very personal stories of the families, businesses, and communities involved in feeding and clothing the world. We focus on the Texas High Plains because it is a diverse production area, with many crops and livestock operations, organic and conventional farming, conservation techniques, and broad array of business structures that can serve to inform and educate about the true American agriculture. And while we hope you learn something about where your food and fiber come from, we also hope that you can come to feel the love these people have for their way of life and appreciate their struggle. First, we want to lay the groundwork so the readers can appreciate the material in this book and dispel a few myths about agriculture along the way.

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