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Tracy Whisnant 704-477-7391
www.shelbyinfo.com Our 42ND Year • Issue No. 18 • May 1, 2025
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Shelby Mission Camp’s garden spreads love and lettuce By Alan Hodge Enthusiastic volunteers, welltilled soil, and a desire to serve God and grow vegetables for deserving devourers all adds up to characterize the work going on at the Shelby Mission Camp’s garden at 302 Sharpton Dr. The garden is a lovingly tended half-acre plot located on the camp’s 40-acre property. The camp was started in 2010 and operates under the umbrella of the Baptists on a Mission organization which is a part of the Baptist State Convention of NC. The garden is three years old. Its official name is 410 Farm. The name comes from the 1st John Bible verse 4:10 - Jesus answered and said unto her, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Robbie Alexander is the camp coordinator. He explained the project’s primary purpose. “We grow produce and provide it to the local food pantries we partner with,” he said.
Shelby Mission camp coordinator Robbie Alexander shows student volunteers from Morganton-area Baptist churches how to trim vegetable greens for harvest. Just a few of the pantries include Ross Grove Baptist in Shelby and Union Baptist near Polkville. The range of veggies that come out of the garden is impressive. Last week saw perfectly aligned rows of goodness growing in the rich soil.
“We grow kale, lettuce, collards, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, beans, and chard to name a few,” Alexander said. “Last year we grew 6,000 pounds of vegetables. This year we are hoping to grow 8,000 pounds. We are off to a good start. We have about 250 tomato plants. 100
Tools at the ready, these Shelby Mission Camp volunteers from Morganton get ready for some agricultural action.
More Shelby Mission Camp volunteers from Morganton raising fence at the potato field. From left- Mackenzie Wilson, Braxton Ervin, Kelby Hicks, Jessica Carswell. pepper plants, and a good mix of cool season stuff.” The garden is grown yearround. “As long as stuff grows, we distribute it,” said Alexander. Volunteers are the backbone of the garden and its mission. Volunteers include church groups, students, and individuals. They come from both Carolinas and other states as far away as Michigan.
“We have hundreds of volunteers,” Alexander said. “They eat and sleep at the camp.” Last week saw a group of around 40 student volunteers from Morganton-area churches working on the garden. Baptist churches represented included Missionary Ridge, Amherst, Pleasant Hill, and East Valdese. Missionary Ridge youth pastor Michael McIntosh talked See GARDEN, Page 2
Volunteers Caleb Scronce and Madison Shrewsbury help out at the Cleveland County Potato Project site up the street from Shelby Mission camp.
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