We love our chickens!
How did we get involved with our community garden? We met Jeff and Adele Talmadge, owners of Talmadge Construction, at our city’s annual Shortest Parade in the World and Pancake Breakfast on the 4th of July this year. We were introduced by our dear friends, Kim and Pete Mansfield. Kim used to watch their son when he was little, and she mentioned that they are a family of black belts. We told them about enrolling our six year old, and how Trent was considering joining the Dojo. They gave us great advice about the journey of martial arts, and as we continued to get to know one another, they found out about the organic nursery.
Jeff said he was a member of the local CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, and was thinking about donating some of his land to create a community garden for the kids. We went crazy about the idea, and we’ve been friends since. It so happens that Jeff and Adele live around the corner from us.
I have to stop the story for a minute to provide a quick brief about this amazing organization: “CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them.” If you have the time to sponsor one of these kids in your area, please go to CASA’s website to find a local chapter to volunteer.
We kept in touch with the Talmadges throughout the summer and then were introduced to Melanie Larson, another CASA member, who approached her church about the idea of utilizing unused land in front of it for a community garden. It would be offered to local families who didn’t have the ability to grow their own food or simply couldn’t afford the cost of fresh produce. CASA kids could also help these families and learn about agriculture, life skills that could be utilized in their future.
We were thrilled to be part of it for all of those reasons. But we also knew that we could actually help these kids and families adopt healthier eating habits, become environmental stewards and build a sense of community.
In October 2009, we met with Melanie; the new pastor, Dale Sollom-Brotherton; and fellow church member, Gene Sanden to offer our help. We’re now members of the Aptos Community Garden Board, and are proud to offer these families their vegetable and fruit starts, and our knowledge. But we’re also here to document the progress of the garden so that you will be inspired to start your own.
On that note, here are the first photos of the area that will be known as the Aptos Community Garden. The big takeaways from this post: an area that was not being utilized will now be able to feed over 80 households and all it takes is the inspiration from one person to make it happen.
Wow, Linda! This speaks to the power of people to people networking, sharing ideas and inspirations. To think that our 4th of July meeting would result in gardens for 80 families is truly amazing. You and Trent have boundless energy and a real sense of how important community is – and put it into action! How fortunate we are to have such good friends as the Mansfields who introduced us to you. And to Kim, that little boy you used to babysit just turned 21!