A community garden to crow about!

Hazy, hot & humid…the 3 H’s that have become the norm as August unfolds here in my part of the Midwest. Each day feels as if it’s in slow motion…work is getting done, but at a pace that has kept me behind on my to-do list. Barn cats can be found snoozing in the shade more than usual, and even songbirds at the birdbath seem to linger, simply enjoying the cool water. After a long stretch of rainless days, the garden is in need of daily watering, fields are dusty, and once green grass is beginning to look parched.

The persistent whirring of barn fans offers  a soothing cadence; however, their real purpose is to create a breeze that hopefully keeps farm animals as comfortable as possible during these dog days of summer. A funny name…just why are they called the dog days of summer?  History tells us we can thank the Romans! They noted that the star Sirius, a part of the constellation Canis Major, rises and sets with the Sun in summer, marking the hottest time of the year. The Romans called this time “dies caniculares”, or dog days.

No matter the reason for the name, we are definitely ready for a change. Happily, last night brought the rumble of thunder and distant flashes of lightning. Fingers crossed, the promise of rain! Too many times I’ve watched darkening clouds, that surely must have been filled with rain, simply pass by. This time it was different…the rain fell and  continued steadily throughout the night and into the next morning. At last, a break from the sweltering days… ahhh, a cooling breeze and temperatures that had dropped 20 degrees! 

It’s good to remember, even during days that seem almost unbearably hot, there are simple pleasures all around if we look for them. It’s that same August heat that brings with it so much garden bounty…the sweetest corn-on-the-cob, the juiciest berries, and the ripest watermelons; those are the rich rewards of late summer! 

Oh, and that cucumber patch that’s doubled in size since last week? Well, bright and early, with the day’s temperature already rising, you’ll find me in the kitchen making my grandmother’s bread & butter pickles. Her cherished recipe, handwritten on a simple index card that’s yellowed with age and stained from decades of use, is one of only 5 recipes of hers that remain. 

My 10 year-old self still has sweet memories of both of us in her garden…she would wear a simple house dress, there would be a friendly dog nearby, and always an ice cream float afterward to cool us off.  Taking the time to prepare her pickle recipe exactly as she did, and reading those instructions in her handwriting, always brings back happy recollections of those days spent together.

Thinking about it, that’s part of the beauty of having a garden…it’s meant to be shared. Yes, we happily share the prolific beans and tomatoes, but a garden also gives us the opportunity to share what we know, as well as some of our time.

Recently, I was reminded just how important it is to share that knowledge. My son, who’s a university Biology major, just finished a summer internship that included time spent in a community garden. He had the opportunity to help teach and garden with teenagers who signed up to spend their summer vacation from school gardening. Yes, teens who wanted to learn to garden! 

In this fast-paced, no time to smell the roses world, it can be easy to not even think about where our food comes from. A visit to the grocery store and we can find tomatoes in January and sweet corn in December. Foods from around the world are at our fingertips, and I’ve read that many items we probably find on our tables daily have traveled anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 miles to our local grocery store. Not the exception…but the rule. And if I had to guess, I’d say most teenagers aren’t thinking about where their food comes from, or if it’s locally grown or in-season. 

But this community garden – wow, it gave these teens a terrific start at getting back to basics! They spent the summer weeks planting, weeding, caring for, and finally harvesting veggies in their own garden spot. They took time to visit other community gardens to lend a hand weeding and to see how others tend their gardens.

They learned about buying local and supporting farmers and cottage food bakers right in their own hometown. They set up a display at the Farmers’ Market on the town square each week to spread the word about their garden and answer questions. Then, when they discovered how easy it was to use the fresh food they had grown in recipes, they began sharing food samples. I can tell you theirs was some of the best pesto I’ve ever tasted! They even spent time with chefs from local restaurants studying nutrition and enjoying hands-on cooking activities.

What began as the chance to spend summer working in a garden, blossomed into an amazing opportunity for teens to learn more about cooking, canning, problem solving, and teamwork. 

At the end of many weeks of hard work, they hosted an open house and welcomed anyone who wanted to visit their garden to stop by. It was amazing…they had everything from herb gardens to pumpkin patches, striking sunflowers, colorful wildflowers, and veggies of all kinds. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything as beautiful as the rainbow lettuce! They even put together their own recipe book. The delicious broccoli salad was my favorite; crunchy, full of flavor, and picked from their garden patch only a few feet away. Nothing could be better!

I couldn’t help but be impressed as the adults congratulated the youth and interns for their hours of hard work in the summer sun. Parents were thanked for supporting their kids, as well as a program that’s only in its second year. It was easy to see the youth were thrilled to show that their hard work had paid off…as they should be! What an amazing way to not only get back-to-basics, but to have this great group of teens work side-by-side with others who are passionate about gardening, fresh food, and buying local.

So, how do community gardens work? Well, each one will be a little bit different, but generally a space is provided for families or individuals to grow their own food. Why? Maybe those folks live in an apartment where there’s simply no room for a garden, or maybe they live in one of the many neighborhoods that have rules prohibiting planting a garden…gasp!

What’s the benefit? So glad you asked!  Any gardener will tell you what a great feeling it is to plant seeds, nurture them, baby them, worry about them, water them, (maybe even talk to them!) and then watch with amazement as they become fresh, wholesome food they’ve grown themselves! A community garden gives family & friends the opportunity to share time together and then meet others in the neighborhood and community who love gardening as well. No matter if you’re a master gardener or a beginner, you can garden side-by-side and learn so much from one another!  

Are you interested in finding a community garden near you? Look up the American Community Gardening Association, (here)  and then zoom in on the map for areas nearest to where you live. You’ll find a contact number or email so you can start asking questions and get all the information you need. If there’s not a community garden close by, maybe you can start your own!

The initial steps aren’t complicated, although you’ll need to check your local town or city guidelines for any rules or regulations.

Ready? Let’s brainstorm! 

1 – 
Is there a spot that’s just right for a garden? It doesn’t have to be a gardener’s paradise, even a vacant lot will work. Just think how beautiful it will be filled with veggies, flowers, and happy gardeners rather than an empty, forgotten space.

2 – 
Get the community involved! If it’s a paved lot, do you need help building raised beds, or is there ground that can be tilled and then planted? Do you need to raise funds?  What are the rules for fundraising? Get the word out…calling all friends & neighbors! You’ll need a group of dedicated folks who are passionate about getting and keeping the garden going strong. 

3 – 
What size are the individual garden plots? Is there an annual fee for gardeners? If so, does that fee help you provide tools, hoses, mulch, or seeds? 

There’s much more to consider, but this is a jumping off point to get the ideas started. As the old saying goes, you’ll have to put your thinking cap on – there’s a lot to do! If you’re not quite ready for all of that just yet, simply start small…container gardening on your porch, deck, or balcony is a great first step.  I think the juiciest tomato may just be right outside your door!

Do you have a friend who gardens? Why not ask if you can join them and tend a row of tomatoes or broccoli? I’m guessing they’d love the company…I know my girlfriends and I have often solved all the world’s problems while picking sugar snap peas!

And while you’re brainstorming, hop over and take a peek at MaryJane’s Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badges…in no time at all you can earn the Connecting Growers and Eaters Merit Badge (here), the Plant it Forward Merit Badge (here), or if you get the ball rolling on starting a community garden, the Community Action Merit Badge (here). 

While these August days are filled from start to finish, somehow, I’m sensing they are numbered. Maybe it’s because as I close the coop each evening I notice the sky darkening just a bit earlier. Maybe it’s the back-to-school advertisements, or the (way too early) Halloween displays. Or just maybe, even though the heat is intense, I really don’t want summer to end.

These days come only once…let’s not miss them!