The community garden at the First Congregational Church on Rock Street in Fall River has started to yield a bounty of fresh produce for community members. Constructed last year on the west side of the church building along June Street, the garden has been available to church members and to members of the community who wish to garden but do not have the space at home. Church member Bea Dean and nearby neighbor Donna Chace took advantage of the offer and recently began to harvest their crops of beans and tomatoes. "This is my first time gardening," commented Dean, "and I'm absolutely pleased with the results." The tomato plants are loaded with both ripe and green tomatoes that will last well into the fall. "I live in apartment nearby that doesn't have space for a garden," noted Chace. "I'm new to gardening, too, but Bea and I are learning a lot that we'll apply in next year's garden," she added. Some of the produce will be donated to the Branch Community Supper where Donna volunteers. For more information about the garden, contact the Church office at 508-672-5862.

(Top row) Donna Chace inspects two of the tomatoes that she picked in Bea's garden plot that was made available along the west side of the First Congregational Church on Rock Street. (Bottom rows) Church member Bea Dean joins Donna to pick some of the ripening tomatoes that have grown over the summer. They grew marigolds next to the tomatoes and beans to chase away pests that might eat the plants.