Eden's Orchard: Turning Church Land into a Living Ministry and Mission, Building Community and Feeding the Hungry
Many churches today face a challenging combination of food insecurity in their communities, declining church attendance, and underused land on their properties. Eden’s Orchard, the missional expression of Eden’s Refuge, offers a compelling solution: transforming unused church grounds into thriving, low-maintenance orchards that feed the hungry and open new doors for local ministry. In this inspiring and practical webinar, JD Van Allen, certified permaculture designer and founder of Eden’s Refuge, will share how churches can plan, install, and maintain a community orchard with limited ongoing resources and volunteer hours. Drawing on real-world examples, including an orchard planted in the parking lot of C*Road Church, JD will show how a well-designed system becomes a sustainable ministry opportunity for decades to come.
Participants will learn:
How to design and install their own church orchard
How to use the orchard as a ministry tool during every phase of the process
How an orchard can become a centerpiece for ongoing outreach, education, hospitality, and transformation
Whether you're dreaming about new ways to serve or looking to steward your land more intentionally, this session will offer a clear blueprint for turning vision into fruit. Promotional overview of Eden’s Refuge With grocery prices going up and the quality of food going down, Eden’s Refuge helps you design and install beautiful spaces that feed your family and community. Eden’s Orchard is the missional expression of Eden’s Refuge, equipping churches to transform lawns and underused land into thriving, low-maintenance orchards. These living landscapes feed the hungry and open the door to long-term ministry, outreach, and community engagement. Learn more at www.edensrefuge.ca.