Community Garden Entry 1

Published by: Andre Shinabarger
March 9, 2010

I have been dreaming and talking to friends about a community garden for a long time. I have thought about doing this for both individual and communal reasons. I personally connect with God by spending time in creation and enjoying the outdoors. I also love the idea of working together in community and getting back to the way we ought to eat-locally and organically. I am excited to turn off the TV and computer and get some dirt under my finger nails.

Well, it’s time to stop talking and start doing. I have been talking about this idea since I moved into our house 3 years ago, and yet somehow every year as spring comes and goes I have no garden and I am disappointed. I really have no excuses to not do this. We have a huge back yard that we could have a big garden and still have a yard. I have friends in community who also want to be a part of it. I love to garden and I love fresh vegetables. So, what is my problem?

When it comes down to it, I know this is a big commitment. Gardens take dedication and perseverance to upkeep. This garden depends on me watering it and weeding it to survive. That is a lot of pressure! I mean, what if I can’t do it? What if I fail? What if I dig this gigantic hole in my backyard and then it all dies and at the end of it all I am left with a dead plot of land that reminds me of the fact that I suck?

We all have those people in our lives that challenge us, and I am sometimes grateful for them, and sometimes I wish they would just keep their mouths shut. Well, those wonderful friends brought up the idea that I should blog about the garden regularly on the plywood blog–about the progress, about the hardships, about what I learn and hopefully about the successes. So, this is me, willing to put my humble gardening skills to the test, and if I fail, well you will know about it. And maybe I will learn that it doesn’t matter if I have a thriving garden or not, it just matters that I tried and that I learned something. I hope you will follow me on this journey and if you have some mad gardening skills, please comment because I need all the help and advice I can get!

Sandy

I’m so glad you are doing this! When are you starting it? Let’s go!!
I’m excited to see this plan get off the ground (no pun intended). I know how much I love my garden; how much pleasure and satisfaction and peace I get from it…and a few headaches (like gigantic tomato worms!) plus all the yummy veggies!
So I will definitely be cheering you on!
Love ya!
Mom
http://www.groupenerji.com/plywood_fiyatlari.html Jack Fisher

good luck in your work sounds like another promising idea
anne

gardening skill # 57 – talk to the plants!
Scientific studies show that sound plays an important part of plant growth but they can not figure out the ‘way’ behind the studies. I believe talking to your plants ties into created connecting with creation (the call to tend to our world), HENCE – talk to the plants! … but maybe not when to many others are around

If you tackle the garden like everything else in life, it doesn’t matter what bugs, dog, soil may or may not physically destroy the vision! Many people will have impacting moments with you in community!
Judy Shinabarger

You can do it, Andre! I don’t know much about Georgia soil, but I’ll pray for rain, so you won’t have to water too much. Make Jeff pull weeds, and Jada will love being outdoors!
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[...] I am to begin addressing the poverty of my neighbors right where I live. Andre’s starting a community garden. We can engage our homeless neighbors in the process and give them opportunities to earn food [...]
http://www.trapezsacfiyatlari.com Jack Fisher

All the best in your work, wish I could help you
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[...] you come alive? It could be standing in front of millions of people like she does or it could be building a garden in your community, loving the kids in your neighborhood, making a movie, loving your family, [...]