Zen Living Episode “Community Garden” Nicole Tomlinson: For those if us living in an apartment having a house plant can bring a little bit of nature into our own living space. But if you are craving a more involved garden experience, there is alternatives. Most Major cities have community garden programs, where for a small annual fee you can get a plot of your very own. As we will find out in this episode of Zen Living. This is Emily Nieman of the sustainable foods center. Hey Emily. Emily: Hi. Nicole Tomlinson: I want to talk to you a little bit about the sustainable foods center and it mission. Emily: Our mission is to create a food stable community by improving access to healthy affordable, local food. Nicole Tomlinson: Is this place, like I could come in here and get all the tools I need for gardening and all the different fertilizers? Emily: This particular community garden, the Alamo community garden. It cost fifty dollars for the whole year. And part of that goes to the community tools; we have a community tool shed. So everything is here. People usually get their own seeds and plants. Although many of the gardeners share those resources. Scott Dubois: I was kind of looking for a spot that would be permanent that I could work at. Because I have been. you know moving around town a little bit. I was always attracted to the idea of having other people help m out in my garden. Steve Hebbard: I feel like the benefits of community gardening are primarily for me as a novice. Are coming and not having a clue about gardening. I can come and talk to the other guys and girls that work at the garden here. And they can tell me exactly when it is good to harvest and when it is good to wait. And they can give me a clue on all the things that I have got no idea about. I come out about three ties a week. Mostly I come to admire what’s happened. It amazes me I never was introduced to gardening before. I see that it has grown a foot in 2 weeks and it just blows me away that this happens whenever I am not watching, whenever I am not watering, whenever I am not doing anything else. Nicole Tomlinson: So can you tell m a little bit about the composting process? Emily: Yeah, that is the whole reason why we eat fruits and vegetables because they are full of nutrients right. And so whenever you take the banana peel or the egg shell that also has nutrients in it. And you don’t want to send those nutrients to the landfill; you want to return them to the soil so you can grow more food. Yeah this is an organic garden so we don’t use pesticides in this garden. Chemical pesticides, um some people use some sprays made out of hot peppers and garlic, to try to deter the pest away. But usually we just try to keep a balance with the insects here. Where there are both good bugs and bad bugs. Nicole Tomlinson: And what becomes of the harvest? Emily: Most of the gardeners grow food here for their personal use, so they take it back to their kitchen. Although I would say probably a hundred percent of gardeners always have excess food to share with fried, family, neighbors, food banks, seniors. Nicole Tomlinson: Oh that is really nice so you can give back a little to your community too. Scott Dubois: A lot of the stuff that I grow I give to my friends, my family. You know I just take in a bunch of tomatoes at work. And so at work I just kind of snack on these all day. Steve Hebbard: I take it home and try to figure out some recipe that can incorporate that vegetable into whatever I like to eat. And so I am trying you bridge my former diet and my new diet and trying to incorporate some new Hodge podge organic mix. Cedar Stevens: I had so many tomatoes that I had to put a notice up on my neighborhood list serve, and ask my neighbors to come get tomatoes. And boy they sure went for it. Nicole Tomlinson: So how did this place come into existence? And how can we form other gardens in our community? Emily: First of all there was a need in this community. Many people ion this area have shady yards, or might live in apartments. And so the all just came together and they found an open site a vacant plot of land. And they just all decided to all go together to grow food in it. Scott Dubois: The hardest part can be weeding. It is a little discouraging to come out and see your garden covered in other sorts of greenery. Well I think the benefits of community gardening are meeting people. Definitely, I have met a lot of cool friends out here. And just the general health benefits associated with gardening are pretty important too. Steve Hebbard: The primary reason that people have given up gardening is because there lives have become so autonomous. So singled out that they have gone off and been alone. It is enjoyable when you come with other people and you are enjoying the same thing. And you can have parties and you can enjoy what you have done together. Cedar Stevens: You know gardening benefits everyone. From the personal spiritual level, to the community level. On up to the whole world. There is something very life affirming about gardening for yourself. And gardening promotes a kind of sanity I think. Knowing where your food comes from is very important to human mental health, as a culture. This is how you learn how to live on this planet in a wholesome way. Nicole Tomlinson: So people do really know by now that organic is really the way to go, but local is actually much better. Emily: Yes local is actually a lot fresher and can actually be more nutritious for you. If you are having hesitations about starting a garden, go for it. Because once you get into it, it is going to be with you for the rest of your life. You are going to want to grow food for the rest of your life. Nicole Tomlinson: Well thank you so much for having us here in your garden. Emily: Thank you I enjoyed your visit. Nicole Tomlinson: So if you would like to get your own vegetable plot but don’t have the space at home look into local community gardening programs. It is a great way to get back to nature and put some good, organic, local foods on the dinner table. I am Nicole Tomlinson and from all of us here at Zen Living, thank you so much for watching. And we will catch you next time. Peace.