Love’s Garden: Growing Food, Community and Faith in Pittsfield, MA

In 2025, Ricardo Reeves, a member of the Berkshire Hills SDA church, said that he felt “the Lord impressing upon his heart” to create a garden in the front courtyard of his apartment complex. Without hesitation, he created a garden with nothing but a broken pickaxe he received from a neighbor. He was determined to use this plot of land to connect with his community and spread the Gospel message. And connect to the community he has!

As people pass by on the sidewalk, on a bike, or in a car, whether Reeves knows them or not, he will wave, invite them over to talk, and offer them fresh produce. This is much more than just growing food for him—it is his mission to be a direct messenger of the love of Christ. While people walk through the garden and pick the produce for free, he walks casually down the rows with them, learning all he can about them while sharing the good news that has been planted in his own heart.

At seventy-years-old, Reeves uses every minute to love people for the kingdom of God. His passion has spread to those around him, and their love for his work has led many to donate equipment, plants, and seeds. Linda Dagostino, fellow church member and neighbor, has been helping since it started. The manager at the local Home Depot was also deeply moved and donated a picnic table, umbrella, new fencing and stakes that were needed to upgrade the garden. In 2025 and 2026, the local newspaper, The Berkshire Eagle, featured Reeves’ community garden in a full-length news article with photos. This little garden has truly become a community effort.           

Now in its second year, Love’s Garden is flourishing with collard greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash and more. Because Reeves responded to the Lord’s call in the quiet confines of his prayer closet and was willing to work, this once unused land has been transformed into a garden to feed the community—both body and soul.