Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor

Turning the page in the Gazette, I saw an article about Sequim's new Community Organic Garden, along with a picture of a few gardeners standing near a wooden picket fence. The article explained that the garden concept came about when a group of Sequim High School students were completing their senior project.

Now the Community Organic Garden was offering classes. I had many questions about what to do in my home garden, so I mailed in the $25 fee and my application.

I was surprised by how large Pam Larson's class was, about 60 people. One week, we all met in the parking lot and carpooled to visit the New Leaf Garden and Greenhouse. I had been curious to see what this couple's greenhouse looked like and to learn how they grew their vegetables.



Questions and answers

During the third class, Pam explained the organic gardening concept of rotation. She showed examples on the overhead and explained how each year plant families such as cole, squash, nightshades and others need to be planted in new areas in order to discourage pests and avoid soil depletion.

Pam answered many questions and there was a very productive exchange of ideas among the class members. Toward the very end, people sat grouped around tables and glued small pictures of individual vegetables onto grid paper, outlining a sample garden that would account for rotation and wind protection while maximizing the available light.

I joined this group because I believe in the concept of organic gardening and in the concept of community, that individual members can contribute meaningfully to the whole. I imagined that each gardener who applied for a plot in the community garden would come with his or her own story and I could see myself walking past each plot to watch their plants grow and to listen to their stories.

Some knew nothing

There were people who came knowing nothing about gardening; some shared a garden plot, while some worked their section alone. There were more experienced gardeners who had grown veggies in this garden the year before and came back to do it again. There were people like myself who had a garden spot at home but wanted to attend the classes in order to learn more and get better at growing all kinds of vegetables.

What I had not anticipated was the effort it takes to grow a garden well and what a highly involved task growing plants really is. I was surprised as I came to better understand what a community looks like.

What I found was unexpected and moving. The garden and the gardeners' involvement took shape in so many different ways. Some of the gardeners lived alone but shared stories and produce with fellow gardeners during their visits.

A group of Sequim city employees sponsored one joint plot. These individuals often took time out from their lunch breaks to take a walk and tend to their garden. Many gardeners gave back to the community by sharing their produce with the local community food bank.



Many teaching moments

One young mother stayed the course as she held two young wiggly boys in her lap during the information classes held in St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the spring. Later, she physically held onto each of them during the group organic garden visits.

She finally was able let the boys loose to use up their energy in the community garden space. During each visit she patiently helped them to learn how to tend to each plant, to witness what a seed can produce and to foster a curiosity about the process.

There were gardeners from an organization called Hot Wheels, which is a group of adults who use motorized chairs. These individuals were able to participate because of access on the garden paths and because elevated garden beds were available.

One gardener was able to communicate with a Pakistani woman who lived in the neighborhood and walked past the garden each day. This woman, who did not speak English, learned the word "beautiful" to show her appreciation for the lovely garden.

Another gardener said that if it weren't for this opportunity to grow plants and to learn from the classes, she would not have been able to do any of this because she would not have known where to begin.



No one right way

This summer I learned that there is no one right way, no magic bullet that works in all situations. Nature is complex and therefore hard to predict. I found that growing vegetables organically involves an ever-expanding knowledge. Every time a young plant breaks through the soil and those first seed leaves appear, I am in awe. It is nothing short of a miracle.

Early in the spring, the garden chores began with some weeding once the last snow melted. After tilling and tending to the soil, seeds were planted. Young plants began to pop up in carefully cultivated rows full of promise.

Later these young green stems and leaves turned into large full heads of cabbage, wax beans, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, beets, bok choy, squash, tomatoes, Swiss chard, onions, garlic, cauliflower, kale, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, parsley, cilantro, sage, peppers, cucumbers and more. Sprinkled everywhere were flowers to attract beneficial insects.

This group of gardeners shared not only information, they shared seeds, plant starts, moral support and even tended to one another's plots when necessary. People asked questions and often got answers based on the experience of others. There was the learning, the listening and the exchange of ideas.

The most often repeated question was "What grew well in your garden this year?" This was a group of people who shared simple conversations and collectively created something remarkable.

Debra Gilbreath lives in Sequim.