Six weeks into the "Great Community Garden Experiment"
As I mentioned in my last post, due to a back injury in the spring, I’ve had to call in lots of help with planting and tending this year’s community garden plot. It’s been about six weeks since I started what I am calling the “Great Community Garden Experiment.” This seems like a good time for an update.
At the beginning of June, two friends spent almost an entire day finishing the planting and mulching. For the rest of the month, weekly “captains'' oversaw weeding and watering the plot. These “captains” were all fellow-gardeners, each with their own plot in the same garden area. I’ve been joking that this year, I’ll probably have the best garden I’ve ever had, since I have not been doing any of the work. Which isn’t far from the truth! As you see from the photo above, the garden looks really good.
Starting in July, one of my fantastic garden neighbors is doing all the watering for the foreseeable future. And - this is exciting - while tapping a friend or neighbor to join me, I am now able to make weekly visits to the plot. This is a milestone, since it means I’m strong enough to get there!
It’s not lost on me that this increasing (albeit incremental) independence coincided with the U.S. Independence Day holiday on July 4th. During these weeks of rehabilitation, I have had lots of time to reflect on the topic of independence. In our fast-paced, achievement-oriented culture, independence is often celebrated as the ultimate virtue. We are taught to rely on ourselves, to push through challenges alone, and to view asking for help as a sign of weakness.
But if there’s one thing I’m learning through this experience, it’s that we are not meant to walk this path alone.
I realize how much I have been fighting this lesson. In a world that often pushes us towards solitary paths, I now see that working together is where the true strength lies. By allowing others to help, I not only lighten my own load but also deepen connections with those around me. As I continue to heal, I carry this lesson with me.
Back in the garden, the flowers (dahlias, snapdragons, zinnias and celosia) are starting to bloom. I am excited that soon I’ll be able to share the harvest with everyone who has helped. Or just everyone, period.