The community garden on Broadway has gone through many hands. The first time I visited
was ten years ago, where the Landless Farmers were removing sod to cultivate a
food garden for their CSA (community shared agriculture). Months went by and another visit found
me sitting with Erica, who was part of a seed saving group using the space to encourage
plants through their full cycle, and create seeds for collection and analysis.
My latest visit was a two-hour conversation with Audrey
Logan. Listening to Audrey speak about
her work with plants is like a story stitched together with history, current
events, personal experience and goals for the future. There is something about the way she weaves
storytelling with facts that allows her knowledge to sink deep in the
subconscious and become part of you.
I am unsure how the land works, but it seems there is an
element of cooperation allowing the beds to slowly shift and adapt to the sun
paths, the changing seasons, and the quantity of help. We made a to-do list, as well as a list of
items that would come in really handy amongst the hand painted signs and slowly
sprouting garden.
Audrey is a strong supporter of effortless gardening, such
as in-situ soil cultivation to encourage earthworms, and planting most seeds
in the fall. The seeds lay dormant for
the season and start sprouting when the soil conditions are favourable. This allows the roots to find local water
sources and nutrients, making for a robust and hardy crop.
She offered me a small bouquet of daisies as I parted, something
to enjoy in my house. The mere act of
pruning flowers gives space for more to
grow, participation breeds abundance.
