How this all started
in 2019

My name is  Michelle DeRaedt and I am so excited to share with you Glory Gardens 3rd annual Seed Give-a-Way.  This amazing seed collection was donated to Glory Gardens in the fall of 2024 from Lowes, Menards, Home Depot, and Ace.   Last year I hosted this event for FREE at Trellis Farm and Garden and this year our mission is to raise some resources to help us expand on 3 more acres of garden space in Batavia.  With your help of a paid entry ticket or raffle ticket purchase, you can help us and leave with a bag full of seeds.

I currently live in Batavia where I founded Glory Gardens Non-Profit.  In the fall of 2019 I was doing some much needed soul searching and through prayer and fasting I heard my calling very clearly……. “Grow Food-Feed People”!!!  Those were the words that fell on my ears and heart.  So, with some research and prayerful guidance, I just did it!!! I got to it by starting seedlings, plants, flowers and all the things. So in the spring of 2020, (just after the pandemic was disrupting all of our lives)  I started designing and setting up gardens to grow food for our local food pantries. Then a light bulb went off….  I could raise funds through a non-for-profit to help us grow  MORE GARDENS and MORE FOOD for our community.  So I got that done too.  I set up Glory Gardens NFP..  I had no idea how many people were in need of fresh produce as well as how many people wanted to help with their time and donations.   The need in our community was overwhelming.  At the start,  I only had a small 40’ x 40’ growing space at my church.  Over the  past 5 years and through my church, friends, family and my newly founded Non-Profit I discovered many volunteers with like minded giving hearts that helped me build these very large growing spaces. From 2019 to current I have designed and created over 62,348 sq ft of cultivated growing spaces with MANY VOLUNTEERS hands doing all the heavy lifting.  Nothing is possible without them.

As of the fall of 2024,  we grow here locally in the Fox River Valley area with just under ¾ acer (30,000sq ft) over two properties nestling in Batavia and Maple Park.  At these 2 amazing properties, and with the help of many hardworking and committed volunteers and neighbors we grow all vegetables, herbs and flowers that are exclusively donated to 3 local food pantries.

Glory Gardens has grown, harvested and donated over 14,800 lbs of organic fresh produce since 2019.  This could not be done without donations and volunteers and fellow growers just like you. .

Through Glory Gardens, we have built amazing relationships with local nurseries and Big Box Stores that have been so very supportive.  Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Tractor Supply, Rural King, Heinz Brothers Nursery, We Grow Dreams, and Farm and Fleet are just to name a few. 21,000+ seed packets came from a few generous locations listed above. (Burpee, Ferry Morse, Pennington and Back to the Roots and more)

I know the Lord has blessed Glory Gardens with these seeds as he knows we have the means and the wonderful support of our community like this one to get them into the hands of the people who WANT TO GROW THEM….  So, here we are, at our 3RD ANNUAL SEED EVENT!

I have no idea what the response or impact this year’s event will bring.  I know that raising funds at the Fund Raising event is crucial in the growth of Glory Gardens. I just want to share the provisions that were bestowed upon me. With the blessing of these seeds and this HUGE EVENT, we hope to do the following.

#1  Get these seeds into the growing hands of families that have the desire to plant and nurture them  and consume and share the fruits  of YOUR labor.

#2  Expand in areas of the gardens with better infrastructure, supplies and even more organic practices. This is done with your purchased ticket and raffle participation.

#3  Seek out more volunteers to help in the gardens daily.  We utilize a very laid back approach when it comes to volunteers and their time. The more volunteers that help us out, the less we have to be in the gardens doing the hard work.  .  (ask us how to volunteer)

#4. Raise the awareness of the need for food to our communities underprivileged families.

#5  See if you would be interested in helping with the development of “BATAVIA COMMUNITY GARDEN 3.0 2025”  Yes, you heard it first!!! We we are in the beginning phases of BCG 3.0.  We are so excited.

I just want to share the goodness of God and his provisions with all of you as well as keep Glory Gardens GROWING strong into the 2025 season and beyond.

If you have any questions please text/call me at 630-318-0214.

All donation entry guests will get a FREE raffle ticket for several great prizes.

We will also be selling 50/50 raffle tickets. (split pot 50/50 drawing will be Live at the end of the event on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AllGloryGardens  BE sure to like and follow and set your alarm to not miss it.  We will call the winners of all the drawings.  But we would love to see you on the FACEBOOK LIVE https://www.facebook.com/AllGloryGardens/ at 4:30pm…  You do not need to be present to win so set an alarm to watch LIVE ON FACEBOOK.

********** https://www.facebook.com/AllGloryGardens/ ************

All of the seeds have been counted, sorted and stored by a wonderful team of volunteers that have been with me since 2019. You will see a lot of their faces on Saturday March 29th.

PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AS WELL AS ON FACEBOOK.

If you would like to donate some seeds, message me for drop off location by March 8th, 2025.

(All guests MUST register through the registration link and fill out the questions and contact info.  If you just purchase the ticket only and bypass the registration link,  you will be delayed at the registration check in when you arrive until this is completed)

Any questions, 630.318.0214

All we do in these gardens is for HIS glory…
Blessings and Be Well to All,
I thank you,

Michelle

Check out my YouTube Channel