I visited the Fairmount Community Garden yesterday, where we spotted some vegetation and compost. This garden is unique as the residents of Fairmount all take part in the care and prosperity of the park. Residents can rent plots for a gardening season and grow the recommended vegetables that can be picked when ready. The garden community sparks inclusivity efforts as every community member can contribute. Even people who are not members have open access to view the garden's progress. Gardening is a part of nature as gardening is art, the ability to place flora in beautiful arrangements, and science as the understanding of plant cultivation takes experimentation and trial and error with the natural world.
My friends and I watered each plot and row of plants to do our part. I noticed the many items being grown, like squash, beans, and cucumber. I even saw parsley and basil growing. When we were watering the garden, I realized how nature can be a collaborative effort with all aspects of life. Us watering the garden is a form of aid to the plants, and watching bees transport pollen from one flower to another is another display of assistance. In return, plants provide food, oxygen, medicine, and much more. As parts of nature, we have a significant role to play no matter our place in the ecosystem.
I love that gardening is like a way of speaking to nature, being gentle with the gifts of resources nature provides. Gardening involves interacting with nature to bring peace and understanding, as you can see the roots and interconnections beneath the soil. You build almost a bond between you and nature because gardening is like a promise. A promise to take care of nature, to take care of life. I never fully understood my grandmother's love for gardening until this day. Now, I see why she believes gardening is a rewarding experience.
Walking and looking into the different aspects of the garden, from the composting section to the individual plots to the bug house and beyond, I felt a sense of break from the mundane world. I remember our class discussion over "The Myth of Antaeus" and the poem describing one becoming strong when touching nature. I agree with this notion because when you interact, learn, and connect with nature, you bond with something more significant than yourself. A quote I remembered from the poem was, "...an individual, once oppressed and overwhelmed by society, seeks solace in nature," (Heaney, 1966). This piece resonated with me because sometimes life can seem overpowering. Therefore, taking time to decompress, empty your thoughts, and be present outside makes things seem more manageable.
Nature makes you feel intentional, which I experienced at the Fairmount Community Garden. As I expose myself to more opportunities involving being in nature, I realize the love I have for nature is increasing.
After this fun day with my friends, I enjoyed visiting the garden and admiring the community's effort to keep this garden thriving. If you ever want to see the garden yourself or even rent a plot to grow your own vegetables, the link below will take you to the Fairmount Community Garden website.
Fairmount Community Garden Photos
I thought this blog post was really impressive. I really liked many of your statements about nature and gardening, that gardening was both nature and an art, that gardening was a way of speaking to nature, and that nature is a collaborative effort with all aspects of life. These are really thoughtful, insightful descriptions. And really nice photos. thanbks for sharing.
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