The Dean’s Garden

The dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, has been planting a vegetable and herb garden in the Dean’s Garden at the seminary for the past several years!

The Dean’s Garden is located in the yard of the Dean’s residence embraced by a fence to protect the crops. Fr. Mardiros learned gardening from his grandfather and assisted him in producing vegetables at a young age.

With much labor and tender love, the Dean’s Garden produces various herbs (basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, mint, cilantro, rosemary, tarragon) and vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, green beans) as well as various other seasonal plants. Der Mardiros uses all organic produce and does not use any chemicals or pesticides. He, with some help, prepares the soil, does the planting, and continues with watering and caring of the crops.

“We have this fruitful Dean’s Garden, but we also take care of the seminary as a garden; each student is tended to carefully at the seminary to bear fruit in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Fr. Mardiros.

At St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, the students are given the tools to till, plant, water, and take care of God’s harvest. Der Hayr distributes the produce of the Dean’s Garden to the St. Nersess community who enjoy its freshness and taste. 

The fruits of his labor are plentiful!