Last weekend was a tremendous time of working together to construct the raised beds for our community garden. With a dozen able-bodied adults, an inquisitive five-year old, a wonderfully content three-month old, and three rambunctious dogs, we were able to build raised beds for 15+ gardeners in less that an hour and a half. It was a joy being outdoors and doing some good old-fashioned work with our hands. Everyone contributed, and everyone worked together to build the foundation of our community garden.
Just as these simple wooden frames represent the foundation of a community garden, the hard work, energy and teamwork that it took to build them, represents the foundation of a genuine community. In every sense, we've gotten off to a great start. I, for one, am looking forward to more of the same, as we continue working together.
It was fun to watch, as people who hadn't really interacted as neighbors, began to realize the ways they were already connected. One particular member is entering into certain transitions and transactions in his life, and it just so happened that another member has the exact expertise that this person is looking for. Another couple of people realized that they had actually known of each other from working in the same tight-knit industry in the area. I can only imagine the other connections that are already there, and the new ones that are going to be made.
As I consider the next step of filling these frames with rich soil, I am encouraged by the thought of even richer relationships that will provide the soil of a productive community. So as the blisters we earned last week from sawing and hammering start to fade away, it's time to get our hands dirty as we fill the beds with soil and get ready to plant the seeds of an even healthier neighborhood!
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