By Merlin Gonzales, President, Faith Hope and Love

There are many stagnant, vacant lands in our city. A question was asked, ‘What if we turn the vacant land into farming and gardening?’ This question stirred many hearts in our city.

Last summer, many volunteers gathered in Fortville, IN and provided raised garden beds in the neighborhoods. Earlier this year, Faith Hope and Love (FHL) partnered with the refugees to cultivate the gardens in Fortville. On Monday, the 10th of May, the refugees farmers harvested their first crop.

Recently, FHL partnered with Midwest Food Bank in cultivating an acre of land next to the food bank. The idea was to turn the land into a small farming site. The Chin people (Burmese) agreed to provide labor in exchange of sharing the harvest of the land.

There were numerous people in attendance among them are Merlin Gonzales, President of Faith Hope and Love, Ralph Taylor, International Affairs Coordinator for the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office, John Whitaker, Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank and Pastor Bhawerain of the Chin people.

In the next few days, FHL will be offering opportunities to adopt hens at the Fortville farm.  You can adopt a hen for $10 one time investment and $4 every month for feed. In return, the sponsors will benefit by receiving fresh farm eggs on a monthly basis and can experience being a farmer.

If you are interested in being part of the FHL initiatives, please call 317-578-3370 for more information.

It is said that unemployment is about 10%. What if the 90% of the population who are blessed with a job provide incentive and encouragement for the 10% unemployed who want and need a loving and dignified assist?  Our job framework has shrunk so it can’t support everyone with a job at this time. So being out of work is not always a choice these days.