Transfiguration Buildings & Grounds – Part III

This article is the third of a 3-part series which provides a description, brief history, and usage summary of the buildings and land comprising Transfiguration campus. This part is focused on the chili farm. The information is offered to enhance familiarity with our campus and assist parishioner understanding of building and land usage and associated financial issues.

Our church, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, officially formed and organized the Crazy Chili Farm Ministry in 2014. The primary purpose was outreach to the local community and service organizations; and, later, outreach was extended to the Indigenous community. Chili plants and chili products were to provide the means to achieve this purpose. The ministry was intended to be financially self-sustaining – i.e., profit from the sale of chili products was to exceed overall ministry expenses and the net proceeds used to fund outreach activities.

The decision was made to locate the Crazy Chili Farm in Transfiguration’s “backyard” (area south of the alley and north of Office & Parish Hall buildings) which is an area of approximately ½ acre. The farm, after expansion in 2018 to consist of two fields with total area of 10,000 ft² , was approximately ½ of the backyard. The remaining backyard land (~ ¼ acre) remained unused (except for the ECW storage shed located behind the Parish Hall).

With two separate fields totaling 5,000 ft² each, the chili farm was not large enough to effectively support the use of commercial farm equipment; however, it was of sufficient size to require many volunteer workers in the varied farming activities. The farm was a labor-intensive ministry. Labor, however, was not an issue from the farm’s inception through 2019, since the chili farm enjoyed an adequate number of eager volunteers from both the congregation and elsewhere to perform the necessary work. The new farm was a recognized success and readily supported by the congregation, Vestry, Diocese, and Indigenous community.

The chili farm was an effective ministry of outreach and became a source of pride for Transfiguration. The farm provided for Indigenous community involvement, delivered revenue exceeding expenses, offered opportunity for parishioner social interaction, and achieved Diocese and national Episcopal church recognition. Farm activities were expanded to include planting of indigenous crops to successfully create our own home-grown seed inventories for replanting and, later, inventory was increased by trading chili farm seed through seed exchanges the farm worked to create. In 2023 its most extensive trading and distribution exchange of seeds took place. As reported back in Transfiguration’s 2019 annual meeting, the chili farm was a popular ministry enthusiastically supported by the congregation and with many parishioners participating in farm activities. The chili farm was a success by any measure.

Farming is a challenging venture. Risks commonly ascribed to farming include drought, heat conditions, disease, wildlife predators, invasive plant life, and labor issues. Over the years, the chili farm was faced with these challenges. In 2017, disease wiped out chilis planted for the 2017 crop; and this event formed the decision basis for developing field #2. Birds and plant-eating animals were a constant challenge, as were various kinds of weeds and wild grass. In 2019, extreme heat caused severe crop damage. In 2020, the advent of COVID presented a significant labor challenge and necessitated a change in farm operations. The labor-intensive activities could no longer be accomplished by multiple volunteers working in close proximity; work had to be performed in conformance with the new pandemic health standards.

Following COVID, challenges to the farm continued and even intensified. During the past few years, crop
degradation necessitated the purchase of chili plants from a nursery instead of growing the plants from seed. In 2021, drought caused crop failure to the extent that income from production was $0. In 2022, rabbits, excessive heat, and continued drought caused crop losses. In 2023, chili plants died due to fungal infection in the soil. During both 2023 and 2024, very little homegrown seed could be added to farm inventory due to indigenous plant death. Chili farm seed inventory was mostly acquired through seed trading with large Native American farms and stand-alone organizations, such as Native Seed Search and university agricultural departments with their own existing seed inventories. In 2024, the farm had no production due to continued presence of the soil fungus. In 2025, chili plants were purchased from a nursery and planted in field #2. However, many of the plants did not reach maturity and crop production was minimal. Also in field #2, all indigenous crops that were planted were killed by herbicide poisoning. While field #1 was set aside entirely for indigenous crops, none were planted.

Transfiguration’s aging congregation presented yet another challenge. The congregation was the primary source of the requisite labor force. From 2014 until 2025, the number of volunteers once eager to work the farm declined significantly. Volunteer workers from outside the congregation were not sufficient to offset the declining congregation volunteers. This year, following a successful volunteer-supported planting day, the quantity of volunteers dwindled during the summer to a few individuals.

The Vestry’s recent review of the Crazy Chili Farm confirmed that the farm has not produced a viable crop for several years. Additionally, in recent years, the farm has not been financially self-sustaining. The treasurer’s report identified that the farm is currently $2,247 in debt.

It became apparent to the Vestry that the Crazy Chili Farm was no longer viable. The Vestry made the decision to cease chili farm operations. [Note: As an Episcopal church, the Vestry, consisting of the Rector and elected members from the congregation, is the deciding body for all matters of church operations and finances.]

So, as of today, what IS happening: (1) chili farm activities have ceased; (2) our Vestry is exploring options, with Diocese assistance, for outreach ministry support to Indigenous communities which may include food-production or food-related activities; (3) our backyard is being maintained in a mowed and cleaned-up condition while options are considered; and (4) the future use of our backyard is, at this time, yet to be determined.

And what is NOT happening: (1) the Diocese is NOT taking over our backyard and (2) our backyard land is NOT being sold.