Ministry Spotlight: Grounds and Garden Committee
This month, we spoke with Cliff Zerull, a longtime member of the Grounds and Garden Committee. He graciously agreed to answer a few questions about his involvement with the ministry, and how other parishioners can contribute.
How long have you been a member of your ministry? How did you first get involved?
I’ve been a member for approximately 30 years. The chairperson, Catherine Kelly asked me to join and I could not say no. She was a great leader and knew so much about horticulture. She said she was looking for younger volunteers. (We still are!)
How does your ministry help the parish?
Our group of about 30 members have so many opportunities to beautify our campus. They plant flowers, weed their plots, and trim their bushes. Many years ago, I saw an invoice from a landscaping company that trimmed all of the shrubs on our grounds and it totaled over $800. Besides saving the church money, we also make our parish grounds look inviting.
When, where, and how often are your meetings?
We only have one meeting all year. We hold a Spring meeting in March. We decide on our Mulch Day, as our group will spread 45 cubic yards of mulch on a specified Saturday. I must admit without the help of the BSA troop, this event would be very difficult to accomplish. We also discuss which plots need help. Our 2023 spring meeting is Monday, March 13th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Audio Visual room. In addition to the Mulch Day, we also schedule a day to trim all of the bushes at once. Trimming all the bushes together makes the campus look uniform and it also gives us a chance to work together.
What is the most rewarding part of your ministry?
For me, the most rewarding part is receiving feedback on how beautiful the church plots look. Many times when I am at church, people tell me how nice it looks, and I can only respond that our members are very dedicated. I am most proud of how our people volunteer to make this place look like heaven. Seeing everything come together gives me so much gratitude for our group.
What part of your ministry do you look forward to the most?
I look forward to our spring meeting, hoping that new volunteers will join us. We are always happy to welcome new folks. While this ministry takes some hard work at times, it also allows one to schedule their own time to maintain their plots. It is also a seasonal ministry; you could say we rest up for the next season.
Who should join your ministry, and why?
Anyone can join our ministry, and with our new Gathering Center, we are looking forward to landscaping the new plots bordering it. If one likes to plant flowers, trim bushes, weed the gardens, or water our flowers, we can always use more help.
In conclusion, I believe gardens have a powerful impact on the emotions of passers-by. A lush, healthy garden filled with color can invoke hope, joy, and even energy. Gardens can also be places of healing, meditation, or simply peace during a hectic day. Gardens that attract people by their sights and fragrances may encourage them to stop and enjoy, perhaps drawing them in a bit further each time. Our Memorial Garden offers such a place. It is said that gardening is therapeutic - come see for yourself. Parish volunteers are essential to the health of our landscaped areas. Volunteers are needed for weeding, planting, and watering throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
We are always looking for volunteers to tend to the gardens, as it is a large undertaking. The individuals who currently volunteer to tend the seasonal gardens do so at their convenience. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact me anytime by calling (309) 762-5638 or emailing clifford.zerull@gmail.com.