Mitzvah Garden KC hosted its 22nd Annual Tu B'Shevat Seder via Zoom on Jan. 16, 2022, in collaboration with Jewish Experiences Director Ethan Helfand.
Participants enjoyed recordings of Shireinu, The Jewish Community Chorale of Greater Kansas City.
Due to its virtual nature, attendees were given a shopping list so they could enjoy four cups of wine or grape juice, three plates of fruits, and a special fruit that they had not eaten in the past year or ever. That fruit was eaten after saying the Shehecheyanu prayer.
In the 1600s, Jewish mystics in Sfat developed the Tu B'Shevat seder, modeled after the Passover seder, to celebrate the new year of trees. Participants ate four different categories of fruit and drank four different combinations of red and white wine or grape juice, symbolizing the four seasons and the mystical “four worlds.” Readings on ecological themes and gratitude for what G-d provides were shared.
The "Golden Trowel" is awarded to individuals or groups in the Kansas City community who have made significant contributions that helped MGKC grow over the past year.
This year's Golden Trowel winners include:
- Bret Babich for his work on leaf composting
- Ron Carlenberg for inspiring and teaching his daughter and MGKC volunteer, Brenda Ruppel, all about gardening
- John Fried, M.D., for regularly coming on Sunday mornings and cheerfully doing whatever work is necessary
- Sohail Mukadam for his Eagle Scout project building modular fencing units
- Kansas City American Indian Spirituality, including Janet Olson, Kara Hawkins, Lee "Stumbling Deer" Slusher, and Jim Snead, for its help in making and dedicating a Medicine Wheel at MGKC
- Mackenzie Sales and Girl Scout Junior Troop 5006 for taking responsibility for this year's garlic crop
- Krisitn Taylor of Kansas State University, who did her master's thesis on community gardens including MGKC
A new program will be led by Chuck Luchen at MGKC, located on the west side of the grounds of The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah, on Sunday, March 13, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to March 20. This program, developed in coordination with Kansas City Community Gardens, will demonstrate the construction of raised box garden beds using the hugelkultur technique.
RSVP by March 6 by emailing Chuck Luchen at .
A Tu B'Shevat seder table with Mitzvah Garden KC’s Golden Trowel awards.
