Strengthening Our Roots

october 2025

update from the team

Greetings, FIG Folk!

Harvest season keeps delivering: we’ve now donated over 650 pounds of fresh produce this year, thanks to your hard work and support. We’ve also deepened community ties with partners including the Lancaster Vet Center, Veterans Multi-Service Center, Lancaster Vet Forum, Veterans Treatment Court, Lancaster Food Hub, Building Bridges, Porch Light, and LGH Community Health & Wellness. In addition, Sarah is now trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), another step forward in caring for those who serve.

On the barnyard front, our squad of chickens is almost full grown, and our fire team of goats is also connecting with the community. Marshall briefly reconnoitered East Oregon Rd, met some friendly local law enforcement, and then rejoined the team to file his after-action report.

Thanks for being part of this mission. Keep growing, keep showing up, and be First In and last out. It just tastes better that way.

upcoming events

CANCELED - Autumn Community Day at FIG

Sunday, October 19

Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances will prevent us from welcoming you out to FIG on this day. However, visit our events page to keep up to date with other times to join us in the garden. We look forward to seeing you!

Events

Join us as we celebrate Veterans Day at the Community Veterans Expo

The Expo features veteran artisans and businesses showcasing and selling their creations, as well as other organizations that support our veterans.

Food trucks on-site (including Cupcakes by Case, Extra Rice, and Big Back Burgers). Raffles and 50/50s to fund Ephrata Lions Club veteran programs. Goodie bags for the first 100 families.

Sunday, November 9

11am - 3pm

American Legion Cloister Post 429

300 Cocalico Avenue, Ephrata, PA

support the fig mission

We’d like to thank this month’s donors, whose support immediately took root in our FIG community.

Kate and Craig Horning

Linda & Dave Hurley

Beth Lilly

Nicole Savini

Sarah Woodbury

Help us Protect the Protectors

Donate

stories from the garden

Meet Luna, one of our dedicated volunteers. This season she constructed an ADA accessible garden box, planted carrot seeds and lettuce starts, watered beds, made pickles from our cucumbers, and welcomed home our chicks. This past month she painted a portrait of Phoenix. This hen became very sick in the first few weeks of life but pulled through and recovered to full strength. Phoenix finds herself a bit smaller, but just as boisterous as the rest of the ladies. Luna is a wonderful friend of FIG, and continues to harness her passion for creativity - in so many ways - to support our mission.

Thank You Luna!

In case you missed last month’s newsletter, you can find it on our website!

News

First In Gardens is a branch of Compassion Point, a registered 501(c)(3) charity.