Spring can be a time for new beginnings, and as winter fades and the first signs of spring take hold, new life is sprouting. The timing was perfect for St. Andrew Episcopal Church (1062 Chet Smith Ave.) in Derby to open a new community garden.
On April 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., the church will host a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its new community garden — an effort rooted in both renewal and purpose. Fittingly, the garden has been named “The Refugium,” a Latin word meaning a place of refuge or shelter. For those involved, that meaning goes far beyond words; it reflects a vision of creating a space where people can gather, grow, and find peace.
About a year and a half ago, members of the church were looking for a way to utilize the area, and the community garden idea stuck.
“The church has always wanted to do something with its land,” Michael Champlin said. “We have about five acres. We just felt like we needed to do something more with the rest of it, something better than just growing Bermuda grass.”
The Refugium includes a mix of individual plots and shared growing spaces. Gardeners can rent 10’x10’ plots or smaller raised beds, while separate community plots allow volunteers to work together to grow food for local partners.
One of those partnerships is with Breakthrough in downtown Wichita, an organization that supports individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Produce grown in the garden will help supply fresh food for their programs.
“We’re doing a mix of different types of community gardening,” Champlain said. “We have individual plots where people can grow whatever they want, and then we also have community plots where we all work together. We want this place to be an island of peace where life can grow, no matter what’s happening in the world.”
Among the garden’s unique features is a shared herb area designed in a spiral layout. The idea came from recognizing that certain plants, like basil, can produce more than enough for a single person.
The Refugium will feature several plots available to the community, including a designated herb area to avoid overplanting of any one herb in the community garden.
CODY FRIESEN/INFORMER
“One thing we noticed at other gardens is that people would grow things like basil individually, but one plant produces more than enough,” Champlin said. “So instead, we created a shared herb garden. That way, people don’t have to use up space in their own plots, and everyone can benefit.”
The garden also embraces sustainability. It operates using a rainwater irrigation system, collecting water from the church roof and distributing it across the property. Future plans include a water tower to support drip irrigation throughout the plots.
“We didn’t want to pull from the aquifer or take more from the earth than we needed,” Champlin said. “We’re trying to work with nature, not against it.”
The upcoming opening event will not only celebrate the garden but also serve as an opportunity to gauge interest and potentially expand. Currently, the garden includes around 11 plots, but organizers hope to grow that number as more people get involved.
“It’s $20 for a full plot for the season, or $10 for a raised bed,” Champlain said. “That money goes back into the garden, but our main goal is to keep costs low so more people can participate.”
Champlin hopes to see the community garden flourish as a long-term piece of the community and is excited to see what it can become with community involvement.
“We’ll have a planting event at the ribbon-cutting where anyone can come help,” Champlain said. “Spring is the perfect time to open this up. It always comes back, and that renewal is something we want people to experience together.”
Cody Friesen is the sports editor for the Derby Informer. Contact him with sports tips at sports@derbyinformer.com, and follow @Derby_Sports on Twitter for the latest updates.
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