Summertime (when the living is easy if you’re a hungry bug or a weed)

Our community garden is volunteer led and driven and I’m pretty proud of that. I mean, if we had paid staff, a large budget and fine, shiny resources I’d be proud of that too – but in a different way.

One of the garden’s raised beds

Schoolyard gardens are funny creatures in the summer if you think about it. Between late May and early September is often when the garden is at it’s most productive – and neediest. The weeds are growing fast, insects are eating and multiplying in large numbers, and here in Virginia it constantly seems like a month will go by without rain. Raised beds drain pretty quickly anyway even with regular rains or watering.

But guess what? Schools are largely devoid of students, staff and faculty in the summer. So who takes care of it? That’s where our top notch volunteers come in. They have “ownership” of sections of the garden and work together to maintain the common areas (flowers, herbs, shed, hoop house, native plant beds, etc.).

Broccoli, cabbage, squash

Our native plant beds, however, thrive even if neglected. Years ago we dug long beds alongside the fence’s interior and over time planted much of the space up with native plants. Some we were fortunate enough to get small grants for. Over time these hardy plants have flourished and as they did, we began seeing more birds, butterflies and helpful predacious insects. Plus, as they create healthy ecosystem and small shade areas, they give the gift of beauty to our eyes and perfume to our noses.

Native iris

I have memories of the years when there were just two or three of us keeping the whole garden running. Now there are dozens of wonderful people. Our garden community is always looking though for good hearts and eager hands, particularly during the busy and hot Virginia summer. If you’d like to get involved email garden@pvcc.edu.

Community

One of the nice things about being a community garden is listening to the stories of the people who come together to work for a few hours and then go their separate ways. Our last three community members: Amy, Michelle, and Raven all have followed very different paths to the garden. As we worked together to clear the beds of weeds, harvest ripe veggies, water and plant, we form a kaleidoscope of quickly shifting conversation and laughter. People come to garden both for themselves and for others. Some people bring their children. While we haven’t had any children bring their parents yet I can only imagine that day is coming.

For some the primary pull of the garden is stress relief. For others, it’s a desire to do something important, even if only in a small hands-on direct service way, for those less fortunate. Some visitors have been experienced gardeners who trot out the Latin names of the rhizomes they’re eradicating. Others come because they want to gain gardening knowledge and work up to providing produce for their own households.

One of the recurring joys the garden has brought is the excitement we see on children’s faces when they visit as a part of their summer camp experience. Last week, Jennifer Page brought a Spectrum camp to visit us. By the end of their stay, the children were clutching ripe cucumbers, salad greens and herbs to take on the bus with them. Their little hands smelled of the herbs that they’d been pinching flowers from. We listened and smiled as they named plant after plant: tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries… they’ll be back.