Cultivation
Welcome to the Annunciation House!
This photo depicts the importance of agricultural labor and exemplifies how it builds body, mind, and spirit by educating the head, heart, and hands. Michael and his wife began working on their garden in 1986 and have continued to expand, keeping in mind the values of Peter Maurin.
Michael Boover, co-founder of The Mustard Seed, can be seen tending his garden. He and his wife have named their home the Annunciation House which was built around 1850.
Peter Maurin: Cult, Culture, and Cultivation
Cult: This fundamental principle of Peter Maurin's vision for the Catholic Worker Movement is concerned with the spirituality of the individual. Through prayer, liturgy, and meditation, Maurin believed that individuals could deepen their spirituality and be in communion with others. Michael Boover has adopted this principle by constructing a chapel adjacent to his garden where members of the community "gather for 'Centering Prayer' as a small group and take refuge in the place when 'labor and heavy burdens' make for a homecoming to the one who offers us rest there."
Culture: This fundamental principle of Peter Maurin's vision is centered around the mind. Maurin believed that it is important for members in a community to engage in intellectual discourse and scholarly discussion with one another in order to sharpen their mind and clarify their thoughts. Behind Michael Boover's garden, there is a grape arbor in which he and members of the community engage in discussion with one another on days where the weather permits. This grape arbor represents the importance of culture and fostering the health of the mind.
Cultivation: A central figure in the establishment of the Catholic Worker Movement, Peter Maurin, held the belief that Cultivation was essential to his vision. Michael Boover writes, "Cultivation has to do with Maurin’s expressed desire that farming communes or 'agronomic universities' serve as an antidote to those aspects of industrial culture that were and remain irreverent or indifferent to creation. Agricultural and craft pursuits were to be, and also suggest to others, the pure means whereby a more sanctified economic order could take root in the shell of the old." to communicate why cultivation is so important to the movement.
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Though a garden seems to contribute only to cultivation, the Boovers have been sure to incorporate aspects of cult and culture throughout. By including these elements in their garden, they acknowledge the importance of each principle and how each one complements one another in the creation of a healthy body, soul, and mind. The inclusion of each principle is a tribute to Peter Maurin and the influence he had on the Catholic Worker Movement. For the Boover family, being active in cultivation allows for connection with God and His creation.
The Value of Nutritious Foods for Low-Income Communities
For many low-income families, adhering to a stable and nutritious diet can be difficult due to the high cost of quality food. Low-income communities turn to affordable, yet more unhealthy food options. Rather than following a diet centered around high-quality proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, those struggling economically choose a diet consisting of low-cost energy rich starches and added sugars. The solution to combatting the dietary difficulties of low-income communities is through affordable and fresh produce. According to research conducted by Harvard, a "diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive affect upon blood sugar." Many of these medical concerns disproportionately affect low-income communities due to their poor diet. The Catholic Worker Movement believes that the practice of cultivation is a key solution to this problem as it encourages individuals to pursue the art of agriculture and grow their own food. This fresh produce grown by members of the community can then be given to those who affected by hunger. Co-founder Michael Boover has provided fresh cucumbers grown at his home garden to the Mustard Seed encapsulating the value of cultivation on an individual level. The Mustard Seed prides themselves on serving nutritional meals to those struggling in the Worcester community. The Seed receives generous food donations from local organizations, religious groups, and private citizens all of whom provide cost-free and nutritional meals to the community.
Vegetables!
Cucumbers and peppers harvested from Michael Boover's garden. (Above)
Some of the vegetables grown in the Michael Boover's garden can be seen to the left. Alongside a brief overview, the health advantages of each are also highlighted.
Green peppers (Capsicum annuum): contain a lot of water and Vitamin C. This is important because Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy. According to a study, "10-17% of low-income and homeless people suffer from scurvy-level vitamin C deficiency." These peppers are just one example of how simple food can have a big impact in low-income areas.
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus): low in calories and high in water, vitamins (C and K) , and minerals (magnesium, potassium, and manganese). Cucumbers are 96% water and contain antioxidants that contribute to the prevention of chronic disease.
Carrots (Daucus carota): An excellent source of Vitamin A, carrots contain beta-carotene which is important for eye health. Carrots have high nutritional density at low costs which offers a great option for low income families to give their families the nutrition they need.
Magnolia Tree in Michael Boover's Garden
Magnolia trees symbolize purity and nobility. They are beautiful trees and are a pleasing sight to whomever gazes upon them.
