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Garden community
Being part of a community garden has got me thinking, what is a community? I live 36.1 miles from this community garden but habitually hop in my car and commute twice a week.
What for?
First of all, it's for the kids. I am working with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa to cultivate growth of plant love in kids. It's my thing.
Second, it's for the health... of the kids. I would find it hard to believe that you have missed out on all the media hype pertaining to obesity in America, especially in our youth. So what better way to fight than with a community garden? The kids (and leaders) are getting excise weeding, composting, weeding, planting, and weeding. They will also be savoring the fresh fruits of their labor at the dinner table later in the season.
Third, it brings people together. I am slowly meeting the parents and families of the boys and girls. There are more signed up to maintain garden plots but some have actually come during "class time" to weed and move compost. People need support systems and this includes kids. I hold a strong belief that the kids who participate in the community garden will hold special ties to those twenty plots their entire lives. This includes the people who make up their garden community.
Garden communities aren't restricted to twenty, ten by ten plots. In fact, I'm convinced they don't need shared soil at all. Part of my garden community are those folks I follow on Twitter. I learn an incredible amount from their 140 characters, believe it or not. Okay, so reading the links they post and blogs they write actually contributes to my mental library as opposed to their tweet, I have found new sources, facts, and sites from this online community.
My garden community isn't limited by plots of earth, although my taste buds will put up a good argument soon. Both my online community and the community I immerse myself in two times a week help me grow figuratively and literally. It took me awhile to figure this out, but I am really glad I did. I have met and "met" some amazing people who can't wait to share their tips and tricks about gardening that have saved me years and countless mistakes. I can only hope I impact a future gardener in such a positive way through one seed of inspiration that flourishes so they may continue to grow and share a seed of their own.