Catholics enjoy a history rich with gardening traditions.
The Rule of Saint Benedict called for work in gardens, and many religious communities still include gardening as an important part of their charism. Gardening played an important part in the Catholic Worker movement as well.
The grounds of Churches, retreat houses, and seminaries generally include a quiet garden where one can be at peace with God’s creation – and many include gardens dedicated to Saints or to the recitation of the Rosary.
Saint Therese -the Little Flower – was especially fond of gardens, and it is no surprise that she often sends a rose to those who petition her for special favors.
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Gardens are part of our
identity as Catholics and
creatures created by God.
Adam and Eve
were placed in the
Garden of Eden
before the temptation
and banishment
from Paradise.
Before His final Agony,
Christ went to pray in the Garden at Gethsemane.
When Our Lord was Resurrected,
Mary Magdalene
mistook Him
for a gardener.
The Precious Body and Blood
are formed
by the products of gardens –
the wheat
and the vine.
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Our Garden Pages
The Catholic Garden
Evangelize in Your Front Yard
Catholic Community Gardening
Our own community gardening experience
and lots of resources to help feed the poor
French Intensive Gardening, Hay Bale Gardens
Planning and Planting
Your Catholic Garden
Great Gardens Start with Great Plants and a Plan
Catholic Garden Plans
Free Plans for Every Garden Condition
Including Links to Discount Sources
Where to Find Flower Garden
Bargains and Freebies
Discounts, Coupon Codes, Free Offers
Front Yard and Wayside Shrines
Our Photo Archive
How to Select A Garden Shrine
What Kind of Shrine is Right for YOU?
NEW Sources for Affordable Church Statues
Outdoor Statues for the Garden
Our Lord Our Lady Angels Saints
Catholic Home and Garden’s Selection
The Garden Bookshelf
Links to books and magazines for those
days you can’t get out and play in the dirt
Recommend This Page
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Gardening provides
opportunities to put
faith into action.
Evangelize
Feed the Hungry
Care for the Sick
Visit the Prisoner
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Evangelize The simple act of placing a statue or shrine in a well kept front garden bears witness to your presence in your community as a Catholic. Statues of the Virgin Mary are popular front yard additions, but the Sacred Heart of Jesus and any of the saints make a statement and may serve as a channel of grace for passers-by.
Don’t be surprised when you see someone blessing themselves as they pass by.
Visit our Front Yard and Wayside Shrine photo page. |
Feed the Hungry Whether you decide to plant an extra row for the hungry, or start a community garden, this is an action that brings faith into action in a very real way.
Blaze harvests zucchini squash in our former community garden to feed the poor.
Visit Our Catholic Community Garden Page to explore
Resources for Ideas – Support – Free Seeds Intensive Gardening Links for Higher Yields
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Cheer the Sick Elderly and
Imprisoned
Forget about
1-800-Flowers
Plant a small bed of cutting flowers to share with those who might need cheering up. Think about planting some drying flowers like statice for giving all year round.
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Flowers are For Sharing.
Some long-lasting cutting flowers include baby’s breath, zinnias, and cone-flowers, but there are many more.
Add some ornamental grass or even twigs for interest. |
Gardening Supplies
 
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Many elderly shut-ins once tended gardens of their own and you can gladden their hearts by bringing along a bouquet.
Older Catholics who have moved away from larger homes into apartments truly enjoy the gift of a small garden. Late in life, my own mother left her home of 50 years and the garden she loved to move into senior citizen housing. She was thrilled when we brought over several large planters filled with soil so she could grow tomatoes, pole beans, and herbs. The other residents loved their new “instant” garden … so much so that it was featured in the New York Times!
Those who are in prison, shut away from the good earth and sun, will also appreciate receiving the thoughtful gift of flowers – but check first to be sure they are permitted.
Don’t forget the poor, who often live in squalid conditions and can ill afford the luxury of flowers.
And don’t forget to use a Mary head vase or planter!
Visit Catholic Garden Plans and Disaster-Proof Your Garden for easy and affordable flower gardens.
Garden Resources to Use Now |
You can use just about anything for a vase. Although it was years ago, I still cherish the memory of a visit to my office from a friend who brought some cut irises in a mayonnaise jar with a little twine bow around it. It was one of the most beautiful and thoughtful gifts I ever received.
If you feel the need to be a little more formal, summer garage sales offer a bounty of very inexpensive vases.
Last year we nearly denuded our rose garden for a Corpus Christi procession. Fortunately, the parish was setting up for a white elephant sale and we were able to borrow the an abundance of attractive vases for the altars.
As a project for a Church group, cut out inspirational Catholic images from catalogues or old greeting cards and decoupage onto a jar to personalize it with a favorite saint or devotion. Recycle old laminated holy cards by taping them on with wide clear packing tape or clear adhesive shelf covering – soften the effect by tying some white netting around a jar and attach a ribbon with a holy medal to be used later. |
Gardening Magazines
When there’s snow on the ground or it’s pouring rain and we can’t get outside to dig, we can often be found curled up under an afghan with a gardening magazine. Here are some of our favorites.
  
Fine Gardening Magazine Garden Design Magazine
  
Horticulture Magazine OG – Organic Gardening Magazine

The American Gardener Magazine

The English Garden Magazine
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A Fabulous Book by Ann Ball. Unfortunately now out of print. |
Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
We have a copy from the 1960s that we will never part with here is the latest edition |
Rodale Book of Composting
Another great book that we have from the 1960s. Here is the updated version |
Catholic Garden Links of Interest
Mary’s Gardens
Absolutely the BEST site for
Catholic gardening.
St. Mary’s Rosary Garden
Cistertian Monastery Gardens
National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods
The Seed Exchange – Lots of links to swap seeds and plants, listed by area and type.
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Patron Saints of Gardens
The Garden Way of the Cross
Trinity Gardens
Flower Theology
No Dig Gardening – A wonderful site maintained by my good friend Robyn who lives in Australia.
Seeds of Change – The most excellent source for open pollinated seeds with many wonderful gardening links. |
Blessing of a Garden
Catholic Doors Ministry offers many blessings here, including those for a
garden or for the fields.
Family Procession for the Blessing of Crops
Blessing of Crosses in Field and of Sprouting Seed
Prayer to Saint Isidore the Farmer
End Times Report – A preparedness website from an old friend, Miles Stair, who includes many excellent tips for stealth gardening.
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