In 2020, Jack Ferguson saw potential in a vacant lot next to the church, which had once been a bookstore in the late 50s. Seeking to revitalize the space, Jack envisioned a community garden as an oasis of food and connection that could serve Downtown Norfolk. His goal was to address food deserts, inequality, and isolation exacerbated by the pandemic. Jack proposed the idea to the church board, emphasizing the importance of creating a space that benefits everyone.

A key concept for Jack was community ownership. “If it’s going to be a community garden, it needs to let the community do what it’s going to do,” he said. From the start, Jack envisioned a garden managed by the people who cared for it, with the Freemason Baptist Church providing the land but little influence on its development.

Thanks to the support of the Civic League and community members like co-founder John Miller, the garden flourished, becoming one of the largest in the region. Jack’s commitment to community development extended beyond the garden. He partnered with organizations such as the Norfolk Street Choir Project, Ghent Area Ministries, and Loving Steps to help low-income families and combat homelessness. Jack’s philosophy remains: “The whole idea of this is to give back, to reach out, and to see what we can do.”