Community Garden on Occupied Vacant Lot - 2015

For about 6 years we occupied a vacant lot in our city (we have one of the highest rates of urban blight of any city in the USA). As I think about a new year, I ponder the possibility of returning to urban gardening in 2021. But even as I think about that though, I remember the garden mostly for the energy and possibility that it brought to our corner of the city.

Something remarkable happens when we grow things. This pictorial documents up close, the transformation of sections of the lot from grass and dirt to organized growing beds, walkways, seeds, saplings, plants and vegetables! And in one area we created a soaking plant garden. It was lovely and made a lot of us more hopeful and happy.

Laying a path for the walkway

Garden beds with soil being placed.

One of the gifts of growing things is just watching change over time.
Of course when we organize to plant food and grow it helps the community. But also a lot of thinking happens as we plan, prepare and plant. A lot of good energy is created as we observe the alchemy of life growing from seed to plant and from abandonment to husbandry.

Saplings, planted and growing

Red and Green Lettuce Beds

Greens and Chard

Plants coming up...

Plants and walkway (more organized.

Maybe it is time to make a new years resolution to go back growing again.

Thanks for engaging with my post @rasbas