A fruitful harvest

Inspired by the hard work of our allotment volunteers, Iain, our Support Manager has been reflecting on harvest time.

You may or may not be aware that Hope Nottingham has an allotment very close to our office at Hope House. It’s a lovely place. Despite being right in the middle of a residential area, it’s a real oasis of calm and peace. It's always a pleasure being able to visit and spend a few moments appreciating the greenery and listening to the birdsong.

Over the last few weeks (and over the summer) our dedicated allotment team have been busy harvesting. The array of crops produced is fantastic. Over the season, barrow loads of lettuce, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, chard, beans, tomatoes, apples, plums and much more have been carefully harvested by the volunteer team and taken up the road to Hope House where they have been used to help supply our food club, food bank and community meals. There's something wonderful about gifting people food that was still in the ground or on the tree only an hour or so earlier!

I’m always amazed at the quality and quantity of the produce that arrives each week. A bountiful harvest indeed! I’m not much of a gardener myself, but I’m aware enough to know that such a plentiful harvest doesn’t just happen on its own. Rather, it’s the result of an awful lot of planning, hard work, skill and dedication on the part of our small but committed team of volunteers. The Hope allotment began as an overgrown and forgotten plot of land, but through the efforts of the team has been transformed into something special. It’s taken a lot of work over a lot of years: clearing ground, building polytunnels, shovelling manure, planting, tending, watering, weeding and so much more. All of this of course, takes place throughout the year – and our volunteers brave all weathers in order to get the best out of the land. They're a committed bunch and I don't think there have been many weeks, even in the very depths of winter, when they haven't been busy getting jobs done. In short, getting the best out, means putting the time and effort in. The plants may do the growing bit, but for things to be really fruitful needs our input too.

Being fruitful in other areas of our lives can be like this too, particularly when sowing hope into the lives of others. Often it feels hard work and a lot of time and effort may be needed before we can see any sign of growth. Sometimes promising new shoots can wither or die, or need what seems like constant watering. Sometimes we may not even be around to experience harvest time at all.  However, God honours the investment we make into bringing hope and light and love to those who need it, whether we see the fruitful harvest or not.

Every hour of hard graft spent on the Hope allotment by volunteers down the years has added to the success it is today.  Likewise every effort we make to show compassion, love and understanding to others can have a profound and long-lasting impact – whether we’re around to see it or not.  Thinking back in my own life, there have been so many kind words, encouragements, and people investing time and care in me that have led me to where I am today. Some of those people have seen the result of their input, others may not have done - but I'm grateful for their care regardless.

So let’s get to work. If the harvest is to be fruitful we need to prepare and water the ground. We need to get planting the seeds of hope that will grow and blossom in those around us. If we get busy doing our bit, God can and will provide a fruitful harvest.