Werner's Community Garden

We’ve been a part of the community garden since we moved here in 2016 when our daughter was 2. Connecting with community, plants, and animals in the garden has been a part of her growing up. We’ve gardened as a family and my daughter has weeded or read a book in the shade. She has learned the names of all of the herbs in the herb garden and has taken a special responsibility for tending the raspberry patch (and eating the raspberries). During the last few years of Covid times the garden has been a refuge and a place for her (and us) to connect with our neighbors. Last year she asked for her own plot! She had a small plot where she decided to grow catnip, nasturtium, calendula, peanuts, carrots, and cotton. Werners community garden has taught her about connection to the land and to her community. She’s taken joy in sharing food with our neighbors and getting to know the birds and insects in the garden. When I asked her what she wanted to share she said, “The garden is important to me because it’s home to so many bees and butterflies that help pollinate. And the herb garden and flowers help the bees and butterflies pollinate so many plants in the garden and outside of the garden. And I don’t want our garden torn down because the bees and butterflies will get torn down too.”