Manos Garden...

I've somehow been included in an exciting new adventure. I think sometimes God has a way of answering prayers before you even know how to ask for it. My friend Jackie and I had been looking into getting into a community garden and not having much luck, as most plots were full with waiting lists, far away, or not easy to work with. I happened upon a free garden class at the library downtown here by us, and all of a sudden made a couple of connections. I realized that one of the guys I had been trying to contact about a garden was an expert at the class, and then we started talking, and I'm putting it altogether and he's telling me about a couple of potentials. I gathered his and a few other's information, and left excited and not so scared (Mike's dad justifiably reminds me of my "black" thumb :)

After emailing this guy again, I arbitrarily picked this garden about a mile from me because it was the closest one. He then connected me with the gal in charge of that garden, and after emailing her, she sent back a reply saying they were having a meeting regarding that garden the next day. I scrambled to get my babysitter lined up, everything worked out, so I hesitantly attended this meeting the next afternoon.

I rapidly realized that I was in over my head in terms of experience, and then realized that this was not exactly what I initially thought. I say at a conference table in a house belonging to the botanical gardens surrounded by 4 master gardeners, the seeming main guy, Michael, with the non-profit associated with the botanical garden for a group called Toledo Grows, the gal in charge of this garden, Alison, and it sounded like several other projects, and a couple of other community members who seemed well-versed in gardens, plants, and ...birds? I was a little confused.

Then it starts to come into focus that this garden isn't really established yet, but not only is it going to be a community garden, it's going to be a project that handicapped adults in Toledo will come and work, in addition this woman, Helen who works with these adults, is also in partnership with a birding society at Cornell and they have interest in making this an urban site to watch local fowl. Helen is also in partnership with a corporation that supports this program with the adults and several more so there's various funding options available. Three of the 4 master gardeners are newly graduated from their master gardener's class and excited about taking an active mentoring role in this locations, it's in an interesting location in Toledo highly connected with the arts community, so there's already been a mural painted onsite and this whole group wants to continue this commitment through other art structures or works and in the actual layout of the garden. They have already started in motion the necessary steps to get it on the weekly art walks in the summer. There's another gentleman, Brian, at this table who is a contractor who also works with at-risk kids, kids who have been in juvenile detention and the like, who is on board to build a terraced garden complete with rain collection barrels, all sorts of raised beds, and a rain garden, whatever that is. And then there's Susan, the master gardener who taught the class I took at the library who is also connected in various ways to the local community college and thus has student volunteers available and some funding as well.

All of this stuff that is way over my head is flying back and forth across the table, and I'm watching all this like a tennis match, and then they turn to me. Why am I here? Uh, well, I'd like to try not to kill some tomatoes, maybe some peppers or peas...? Alison graciously steps in and explains that I live in the area and represent the families in the area. Wait a second, represent? I've somehow become a participant in this project that has the power, knowhow, and ability to create this space that will literally change the face of this part of the city. What?

I called my mom, all excited and overwhelmed, and she says that I have to blog about this! And I'm like, yeah, okay, write about how I'm this random, under-qualified, most-likely-to-kill-anything-that-grows stay-at-home mom who's going to try and blend into this group until they realize I'm ruining my corner of their art. But then again... So here's where we're starting, an empty lot with a beautiful mural on one end. And I've even started some tomatoes, peppers and peas from seed. Maybe I can do this. I'll let you know.