Beth Or’s garden team stands rakes at the ready. (Photo credit: Jennie Nerenberg)
By Leslie Feldman
What began as a simple idea rooted in an ancient biblical value has blossomed into a sustained act of generosity. Since 2010, Congregation Beth Or’s “Corner of the Land” garden has quietly but meaningfully provided thousands of pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to neighbors in need.
The idea was first planted by former Beth Or President Jan Zauzmer, who envisioned using a portion of the synagogue’s property to grow food specifically for donation. The project takes its name and its mission from the biblical imperative to leave the corners of one’s fields unharvested so that those in need may gather food with dignity.
“The goal was never just to grow vegetables, it was to live our values in a very tangible way, by making sure that what we grow is shared with people who need it most,” said congregant Jennie Nerenberg, who along with her husband Bruce Dorsey has overseen the initiative for the 15 years.
This year marks an important transition. Dorsey is stepping back from his leadership role as a new volunteer family, Fern Richardson and her multigenerational gardening crew, take on stewardship of the project.
“I’m happy to pass the baton to Fern,” Dorsey said. “I’m confident she’s going to care for this project with great dedication. I’ll still be around to help when needed, and I’ve got lots of tools to loan.”
The change comes as Dorsey and Nerenberg devote more time to their farm near Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where they raise chickens and grow vegetables full time. Still, the roots they helped establish at Beth Or remain strong.
The first garden was planted in 2010, with volunteers rolling up their sleeves to transform an unused corner of Beth Or’s property into fertile ground. From those early days, the garden became a hands-on mitzvah project, bringing together congregants of all ages to prepare the soil, plant seedlings, care for the crops, and deliver them to those in need.
Each spring, volunteers gather to clear winter growth, till the soil and plant the garden. Throughout the growing season, from June through October, weekly harvesting ensures that fresh produce makes its way quickly from garden beds to food pantries. Crops have included tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, greens, carrots, beets, onions, broccoli, potatoes and more, along with occasional experiments like corn and kohlrabi, a cabbage-like vegetable.
For 15 years, Dorsey has been the steady hand behind the scenes, tending the garden, managing weeds and overseeing weekly harvests. Once picked, produce is washed and delivered, most often by Nerenberg, to partner organizations serving food-insecure families.
“I grew up with my parents’ vegetable garden, and Jennie and I have always had a home garden,” Dorsey said. “Being able to grow food at Beth Or specifically to donate it to folks in need was the perfect mitzvah project. It let me combine my love of gardening with giving back to the community.”
In earlier years, the garden’s harvest supported Interfaith Housing Alliance (now Family Promise of Montgomery County), including its food pantries and Hope Gardens apartments, as well as Manna on Main Street in Lansdale. In recent years, the produce has been donated weekly to the food pantry at Bethlehem Baptist Church, strengthening a longstanding and meaningful relationship between the two congregations.
“It has been really gratifying to provide local, healthy vegetables to those in need over so many years,” Nerenberg said. “For many people, food like that is hard to access and can be very expensive.”
Participation in the program has varied over time, with roughly a dozen congregants involved in the early years and five to six volunteers more recently. For many, the garden offered an opportunity to engage in hands-on service, even for those without the space or ability to maintain a garden of their own.
“This project allows people to participate in a mitzvah they might not otherwise be able to do,” Dorsey noted. “It brings people together around shared purpose.”
More than a garden, Corner of the Land is a living expression of Jewish values, one that has nourished both the community beyond Beth Or’s walls and the congregation itself for more than a decade. As new hands take up the work, the harvest of compassion continues to grow.
Leslie Feldman is a freelance writer.
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