Welcome to Saint Isidore’s Garden
Saint Isidore’s Garden is Our Lady Queen of Peace’s community garden, where we grow fresh vegetables for the OLQP Food Pantry and cultivate pollinator-friendly and native plants. Named in honor of Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers who was known for his generosity to the poor, the garden is cared for by volunteers who come together to tend the soil, nurture plants, and share in the work of growing food for neighbors in need.
Following a major renovation and expansion in 2024, the garden now offers increased growing space and has become a place of beauty and gathering for the parish. These improvements support both a productive harvest and a place of beauty, learning, and community.
Join Us in the Garden for the 2026 SeasonWe’re looking forward to another season of gardening and food sharing at Saint Isidore’s Garden. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or new to gardening, you are warmly welcome.
If you’re interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact Julene at [email protected].
Volunteer HoursVolunteers are welcome to join us:
No experience is needed, and no sign-up is required. Just drop in when you’re able. Everyone is welcome.
The 2026 volunteer season begins Tuesday, April 28 and continues through November.
If these times don’t work for you but you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to discuss other possibilities.
2026 Key Dates**(check back for updates)
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 7:00 PMFeast of Saint Isidore Garden Gathering
Join us for a short garden blessing as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Isidore. During the gathering, we’ll open the Garden Prayer Capsule from the previous year, reflecting on the hopes and prayers offered in seasons past, and invite everyone to add new intentions for the year ahead. Garden tours and light refreshments will follow.
Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 7:00 PMSummer Gathering at Saint Isidore’s Garden
Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly summer evening in Saint Isidore’s Garden. Participants of all ages are invited to explore the garden, enjoy seasonal treats, and spend time together outdoors during the height of the growing season.
Saint Isidore’s Garden is Our Lady Queen of Peace’s community garden, where we grow fresh vegetables for the OLQP Food Pantry and cultivate pollinator-friendly and native plants. Named in honor of Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers who was known for his generosity to the poor, the garden is cared for by volunteers who come together to tend the soil, nurture plants, and share in the work of growing food for neighbors in need.
Following a major renovation and expansion in 2024, the garden now offers increased growing space and has become a place of beauty and gathering for the parish. These improvements support both a productive harvest and a place of beauty, learning, and community.
Join Us in the Garden for the 2026 SeasonWe’re looking forward to another season of gardening and food sharing at Saint Isidore’s Garden. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or new to gardening, you are warmly welcome.
If you’re interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact Julene at [email protected].
Volunteer HoursVolunteers are welcome to join us:
- Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 PM (harvesting and general garden tasks)
- Saturdays, 8:00 - 10:00 AM (general garden work)
No experience is needed, and no sign-up is required. Just drop in when you’re able. Everyone is welcome.
The 2026 volunteer season begins Tuesday, April 28 and continues through November.
If these times don’t work for you but you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to discuss other possibilities.
2026 Key Dates**(check back for updates)
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 7:00 PMFeast of Saint Isidore Garden Gathering
Join us for a short garden blessing as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Isidore. During the gathering, we’ll open the Garden Prayer Capsule from the previous year, reflecting on the hopes and prayers offered in seasons past, and invite everyone to add new intentions for the year ahead. Garden tours and light refreshments will follow.
Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 7:00 PMSummer Gathering at Saint Isidore’s Garden
Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly summer evening in Saint Isidore’s Garden. Participants of all ages are invited to explore the garden, enjoy seasonal treats, and spend time together outdoors during the height of the growing season.
The Welcoming Fence of Saint Isidore’s Garden
The fence surrounding Saint Isidore’s Garden is not just a boundary but a symbol of welcome and hospitality. It represents Abraham’s tent, a powerful biblical image known for its openness to strangers and travelers.
Abraham’s tent is traditionally described as having four doors, one on each side, so that travelers coming from any direction could easily find welcome. In the same spirit, Saint Isidore’s Garden features four gates, inviting people from all directions to enter, rest, and share in the garden’s bounty. Like Abraham’s tent, the garden stands as a sign of openness, inclusion, and care for those who pass through.
The fence surrounding Saint Isidore’s Garden is not just a boundary but a symbol of welcome and hospitality. It represents Abraham’s tent, a powerful biblical image known for its openness to strangers and travelers.
Abraham’s tent is traditionally described as having four doors, one on each side, so that travelers coming from any direction could easily find welcome. In the same spirit, Saint Isidore’s Garden features four gates, inviting people from all directions to enter, rest, and share in the garden’s bounty. Like Abraham’s tent, the garden stands as a sign of openness, inclusion, and care for those who pass through.
Cloister Gardens: A Touch of Tranquility and Tradition
The layout of the garden beds in Saint Isidore’s Garden draws inspiration from the serene and orderly design of cloister gardens. Historically, cloister gardens were enclosed spaces within monasteries, offering places for contemplation, prayer, and connection with nature.
Our garden beds are arranged to echo this sense of peace and reflection, creating a harmonious environment where visitors can experience both the beauty of nature and spiritual calm, while also nurturing the community’s produce.
Over time, the garden has also become a place where people pause and gather, whether to work side by side, walk the paths, or simply spend a few quiet moments together. In this way, Saint Isidore’s Garden supports not only nourishment of the body, but connection, presence, and community.
A Rose at the Heart of the Garden
At the heart of Saint Isidore’s Garden stands a rose tree, whose roses are traditionally associated with Mary, honored in the Church as the Mystical Rose. The word rosary comes from rosarium, meaning “rose garden,” reflecting the long-standing connection between roses, prayer, and devotion. In a parish dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, the rose tree offers a quiet focal point for reflection, anchoring the garden in beauty, prayer, and faithful presence.
The layout of the garden beds in Saint Isidore’s Garden draws inspiration from the serene and orderly design of cloister gardens. Historically, cloister gardens were enclosed spaces within monasteries, offering places for contemplation, prayer, and connection with nature.
Our garden beds are arranged to echo this sense of peace and reflection, creating a harmonious environment where visitors can experience both the beauty of nature and spiritual calm, while also nurturing the community’s produce.
Over time, the garden has also become a place where people pause and gather, whether to work side by side, walk the paths, or simply spend a few quiet moments together. In this way, Saint Isidore’s Garden supports not only nourishment of the body, but connection, presence, and community.
A Rose at the Heart of the Garden
At the heart of Saint Isidore’s Garden stands a rose tree, whose roses are traditionally associated with Mary, honored in the Church as the Mystical Rose. The word rosary comes from rosarium, meaning “rose garden,” reflecting the long-standing connection between roses, prayer, and devotion. In a parish dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, the rose tree offers a quiet focal point for reflection, anchoring the garden in beauty, prayer, and faithful presence.
Nourishing the Community: Saint Isidore’s Garden and the OLQP Food Pantry
Saint Isidore’s Garden is dedicated to supporting the local community through the gift of fresh produce. All the fruits and vegetables grown in the garden are donated to the OLQP Food Pantry, which serves approximately 925 families each week. The nutritious produce harvested here helps provide fresh, healthy options to families who might otherwise go without.
Supporting Nature’s PollinatorsS
aint Isidore’s Garden also includes a native and pollinator-friendly garden bed designed to support local wildlife. Planted with native species, this area provides food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. By creating space for these plants to thrive, the garden helps sustain the ecological relationships that support both cultivated and wild landscapes.
Saint Isidore’s Garden is dedicated to supporting the local community through the gift of fresh produce. All the fruits and vegetables grown in the garden are donated to the OLQP Food Pantry, which serves approximately 925 families each week. The nutritious produce harvested here helps provide fresh, healthy options to families who might otherwise go without.
Supporting Nature’s PollinatorsS
aint Isidore’s Garden also includes a native and pollinator-friendly garden bed designed to support local wildlife. Planted with native species, this area provides food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. By creating space for these plants to thrive, the garden helps sustain the ecological relationships that support both cultivated and wild landscapes.
The Garden Beyond the FenceJust beyond the fence of Saint Isidore’s Garden, the surrounding parish grounds offer additional spaces for reflection and gathering that extend the garden’s spirit of welcome.
Between the church and the garden fence, a walking labyrinth, along with four raised planters and benches, was built as part of an Eagle Scout service project. Together, these elements invite quiet prayer, growing, and gathering beyond the garden gates. Simple bistro lights provide gentle illumination for evening gatherings and seasonal events.
Caring for the GardenSaint Isidore’s Garden is tended with care for both people and the earth. Garden practices emphasize healthy soil, thoughtful water use, and approaches that support pollinators and biodiversity. Plants are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or herbicides, helping protect people, pollinators, and the surrounding environment. These choices reflect a commitment to stewardship and respect for the land entrusted to us.
Between the church and the garden fence, a walking labyrinth, along with four raised planters and benches, was built as part of an Eagle Scout service project. Together, these elements invite quiet prayer, growing, and gathering beyond the garden gates. Simple bistro lights provide gentle illumination for evening gatherings and seasonal events.
Caring for the GardenSaint Isidore’s Garden is tended with care for both people and the earth. Garden practices emphasize healthy soil, thoughtful water use, and approaches that support pollinators and biodiversity. Plants are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or herbicides, helping protect people, pollinators, and the surrounding environment. These choices reflect a commitment to stewardship and respect for the land entrusted to us.
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Our Lady Queen of Peace
2700 South 19th Street Arlington, Virginia, 22204, USA 703-979-5580 Office 703-979-5590 Fax [email protected] Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (closed on federal holidays) Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday: Vigil Mass at 5:30 pm Sunday: 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 1 pm (Spanish), 6 pm (young adult) |
