ACCA garden begins harvesting amid burglary at St. Michael's

PICKED:
The first squash are cut away by Anderson Cottonwood Christian Assistance garden coordinator Alice Caswell and Father Roy Auela of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

About $1,500 worth of property was stolen from St. Michael's Episcopal Church on the corner of Rupert Road and Stingy Lane June 2, according to Father Roy Auelua.

"Somebody cut the lock of the barn and stole a riding lawn mower and a roto-tiller," Auelua said.

Also stolen were a weed wacker and pull wagon of nominal monetary value belonging to the Anderson Cottonwood Christian Assistance (ACCA), said ACCA board member Lyle Amlin.

No burglaries or vandalism of the church had occurred during Auelua's tenure began at the church in 2001, he said. APD is investigating the matter.

Aside from the burglary, the ACCA community garden began harvesting last week with some zucchini and yellow squash among the first vegetables cut loose.

"The Garden will soon be producing all kinds of squashes, beans, tomatoes, peas, corn, okra, watermelons, cantalopes, pumpkins, and even some spices for ACCA," Amlin said, "and the 25 community gardeners who each have received a free plot and water are turning over one-quarter of what they grow to ACCA for distribution in the monthly food boxes handed out to local needy folks."

On Wednesday, a work party hung eight-foot deer netting fence all around the perimeter of the nearly 15,000 square foot garden, Amlin said. A new sign for the garden was also erected.