This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Growing a Community Garden

Late September, the rains are beginning to subside (a little) and the heat is abating (a little), and days are becoming shorter. Most gardens are winding up their harvest and getting ready for winter. Not here.

The new YMCA organic garden’s first planting day was yesterday. Grateful for the volunteers who came, there was plenty of work to go around, and more than enough to plant. The Y’s Mike Hlady generously filled a table with chilled water bottles, bananas and snacks for the workers, along with bags of seeds organized neatly by Margaret Rosar, one for each of the 10 garden beds. Some volunteers brought plants from their own gardens, herbs, onions, hibiscus and more. And there it was, like a ray of sunshine into the garden, the “community” we were all hoping to find.

For hours we worked, sweat, laughed, and occasionally heard the squeal of delighted children upon finding a live bug. As much as we all enjoyed the day, I think the kids had the most fun...as it should be. It was as gratifying to hear the “experienced” young gardener offer advice on seed planting as it was to see the excitement on the face of another as she planted her first seed. Those eager to learn asked many questions, and went home full of ideas and paper cups filled with fine soil and seeds to start or expand their own gardens. It was a good day.

I find myself asking...who am I to blog about gardening, nature, this project? Yes, I’ve been gardening for years, I’ve learned a few things, but I don’t consider myself an authority. I’ve had just as many failures as successes. I read article after article about every crop I want to grow (assuming the authors know more than I do), about every insect I find and every remedy to reduce the damage some can do. Each morning (often before dawn), my thoughts are drawn (now that the kids are grown and gone) to the next garden project (no matter how long you garden, there is always a “next” garden project). But I continue to forget to take pictures of this new garden. Thankfully others remember, so I hope to add their photos.

I guess what it comes down to is this: if anyone cares to listen (or read), I will gladly share my garden stories. If you want to help or to learn, you are invited to join our little community garden. For more information, contact me or Mike Hlady at the N. Pinellas YMCA on Village Center Drive.


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