What's a Community Without a Garden?

Thanks to my parents, I was exposed to growing food in a garden at a young age. Some of my earlier memories include helping my dad pick beans and going out to cut some chives at my mom's request. Even picking black raspberries that grew wild along a hill behind our home sticks out as being such an important and happy thing etched on the grooves of my mind. And while through my early adult life I was not actively gardening, the memory and passion lay dormant inside me, much like a seed. But even if that was not your experience, it still can be. Intimidating as it may seem, getting out in the garden and growing your own food can help create better health and memories. But before I get into a dissertation on the joys and benefits inherent in gardening, I should point out that I know all too well that it is not always easy to have a space to grow your own food especially when you start looking to branch out beyond containers. 

I think I've mentioned to a handful of people out there, especially the ones in my close gardening circle, that I have recently taken on the shared responsibility of helping run and maintain the MLK Community Garden with fellow plant lovers, Cassie and Carol with some assists from John who is the Garden Program Coordinator at Ingham County Land Bank Garden Program. I am excited for the opportunity to help with not only an important community function but also to continue to share, talk and learn with other people who are both knowledgeable and seeking knowledge about growing food and flowers. 

When people are afforded resources and knowledge, they are able to take that dream and make it a little bigger. So for you dreamers out there, if you had enough land to plant whatever you wanted in mass quantities but it could only be one thing and one thing only... what would you choose? And why? 

Happy Dreaming