ABOUT US

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TOUCHING LIVES, MAKING A DIFFERENCE

CHRIST CENTERED, COMMUNITY DRIVEN

Our Story

Michael and Lorraine Streeb have shared a passion for gardening since they were married. They became aware of a significant need that existed: a lot of people could not afford to buy fresh vegetables. They decided to grow a fairly large garden, 10,000 sq. ft., in the year 2000. However, after several years, they saw that it was hardly adequate to help with the growing food insecurity (see section "Go Deeper"). So, they increased the size significantly to about 36,000 sq. ft. They paid for the seeds, fertilizer, tools and more for the first 16 years of gardening. Then, in 2016, God’s Garden was granted a 501c3 non-profit status. In 2019 we were granted permission to garden where we are now. Thanks to the land owner.

The photo below shows Michael in the left and center photos. To the right is a picture of Lorraine.

How did we learn to do gardening?

What is our Background?

Michael spent his summers working on his Grandfather’s land both in Oklahoma and the panhandle of Texas. After high school, Michael pursued and was awarded a B.S. degree in Botany at Oklahoma State University. He has been gardening essentially his whole life. Michael also has a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Lorraine spent some of her youth at her great-grandmother’s farm in the country up river from New Orleans. Her father and uncle planted crops to sell. Her father planted vegetables in their backyard, too, and so she became familiar with gardening from an early age and has been an avid gardener ever since. Lorraine has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered PE in the State of Texas. She does a lot of computer work (grant applications, financial statements, volunteer coordination, doing layouts of the summer and winter gardens, photography, updating the website, sending donation acknowledgements, keeping track of vegetable donations, orders seeds, etc.).

Michael is the one with the vision, skills, knowledge, methodology that was required to take a grassy patch of gumbo soil and turn it into a highly productive garden. He is dedicated to ensuring the garden continues to serve the community. Because of Michael’s background, he prefers to use farming methods such as growing vegetables in rows and not in raised beds as is typical in the Houston area. He has been asked to be a Master Gardener.

KIDS LOVE TO GARDEN & ARE MORE LIKELY TO TRY NEW VEGETABLES WHEN THEY GROW THEM.

What do we do?

We grow fresh, organic vegetables in order to feed the hungry in our area. The majority of the vegetables are donated to our partners: E. Ft. Bend Human Needs Ministry, Richmond-Rosenberg Helping Hands and Mamie George Community Center’s Trini’s Corner Market (Richmond). We have also provided fresh vegetables to Fort Bend Women's Center and other worth while organizations. We don't sell vegetables.

Because of the methodologies we use, the garden has increased its yields of fresh vegetables. For example, in 2017, an estimated 5,440 lbs. of fresh vegetables were given to local food pantries. That provides an average of about 1088 meals. For 2018, it was 7,851 lbs. for an average of about 1585 meals. In 2021 Gods Garden donated 17,447 lbs. of fresh vegetables! For 2022, Gods Garden donated 20,379 lbs. of fresh vegetables!!

We hope to inspire you to grow your own gardens & SHARE. We want to recognize Dennis & Rachel Malek and inspire you with their example. They have a vegetable garden in their backyard and have recently decided to send 78 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Alvin Food Pantry. Everyone can help someone! Thanks!

Our Board of Directors

God’s Garden is 100% volunteer operated and administrated

President - Michael Streeb
Secretary/Treasurer - Lorraine Streeb
Vice-President - D. Carl Garrison
Board Member - David Sabonghy

Go Deeper

If you wish to know more about food security, check out the FAO, World Food Programme (WFP), and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who together produce The State of Food Insecurity in the World.

For more information on growing vegetables in your own backyard, consult the Texas A &M AgriLife Agricultural Extension Service. These people have Master Gardeners available to consult as well.