Saturday at the community garden

The Remington Improvement association held their fall cleanup for their area and the community garden.  It was an overcast day so it was actually pretty nice out.  Along with the various neighborhood volunteers and gardeners, there were about 70 volunteer students from a local college. They ably assisted the various leaders with projects around the neighborhood and in the gardens. There certainly was a lot to be accomplished

The gardens needed some weeding along the paths and the application of mulch spread over the areas.  I must say the students I worked with were very determined and worked at a very steady pace. Between the waste from the neighborhood alleys and all the weeds and tree branches that were trimmed at the garden, at the end of three hours we filled a large trailer and a full sized pickup truck with green waste.

The garden looks beautiful and is now ready for fall preparation.  We agreed that we need to come back to the gardens in a few weeks and spread winter rye onto the individual beds so that we can grow it as a green manure for the spring.  
In speaking with the students, there was an overwhelming opinion that endeavors such as the community garden were efforts they felt good about assisting.  We told them that the gardens were organic for the most part as we leave what the various gardeners do to their plots up to them.  There was talk about food deserts in most of the major cities such as Baltimore and that community gardens were seen as a big answer to some of the issues involved.  There also was discussion with regards to freshness, safety and the carbon footprint of most food we consume.  And again, the gardens were seen as a solution to this issue along with the various farmer's markets we have here in Baltimore.  It was really a pleasure to speak to them and hear their concerns and their admiration for what we had started in this section of the city.
I left the gardens that day a bit tired but also very satisfied that the efforts of all the people associated with our gardens were being noticed and appreciated by the young women and men we met.  It gives me a boost to know that I am not alone in my opinion of just how important gardening in these times has become.  I cannot think of a better endeavor for any family to undertake than gardening.