Community Gardens: Are They Worth the Work?

Around six years ago, I moved to Norfolk from Virginia Beach. The density of the city was very unnerving for me. Narrow streets with so many cars parked on both sides were my first obstacle followed closely behind living in houses so near each other. It seemed too rigid and claustrophobic. I thought my next move might be to the “funny farm” if I couldn’t find a way to cope with these troubling issues. Fortunately for me, the solution to my anxiety was just a few blocks away.

I rented a space at the nearby Community Garden, and suddenly my anxiety level decreased. Walking to the garden became my daily walk and digging, planting, and mowing all became tasks that brought me back to my childhood in rural North Carolina, where there is lots of space and many people who garden. This little space, located behind a restaurant, and between two neighborhood streets, became my place to relax and reflect. I could talk to the people who walked through on their daily exercise of walking or running. So many of these people would comment: this garden is so beautiful, keep up the excellent work.

It is also rewarding to see parents bringing their children in to view the butterflies and all the different fruits and vegetables. Photographers love to come in and take pictures of the flowers, bees, spiders, and earthworms that are so plentiful in the garden. Sometimes I arrive to see someone doing yoga. ODU students meet some of their class requirements by volunteering in the garden. A young nurse likes to volunteer and learn about plants by volunteering. She loves the quiet of the garden to relieve the stress of her job. I could go on to give you more examples, but my greatest joy is seeing my little neighbor, who is three, walk to the garden with his Mom to ask if he can pick some peas. The exciting thing is that this little boy, Oliver, won’t eat the peas from the supermarket, but he loves Anna’s peas from the garden. He loves to walk to the garden with Mom to check on the peas, and he is looking forward to picking blueberries and figs. Oliver's interest in the garden gives me so much joy. It makes Oliver’s mother happy too. So, are Community Gardens worth the work? Yes, there is no doubt in my mind – how about you?