Community gardens are places I cherish, especially when they are brimming with considerate gardeners who understand the value of both sharing and adhering to a few basic guidelines. When gardeners neglect these spaces and fail to engage with their surroundings and fellow gardeners, the gardens risk falling into neglect.

During my visit to the vibrant Chuckanut Center in Bellingham, Washington, I was struck by the unmistakable signs of an active and thriving garden community: evidence of planting, weeding, harvesting, teamwork, and social interaction. Ali Mathews, the garden coordinator, showed me around on a pleasant Saturday morning in late July. Having co-founded the Holbrook Farm and Nursery with her in 1980, I can attest that Ali is truly at home in a garden setting. The Chuckanut Center boasts 16 varied plots that offer a visual and culinary delight: from the towering Scarlet runner pole beans to the intriguing Dakota black popcorn and the tall blue-flowering borage. During this visit, I also encountered my first small hugel garden and was introduced to a tree collard.

While the garden was not entirely free of weeds, their presence was minimal. John Egbert, one of the gardeners, took note of some purslane sprouting near him and proceeded to share a binder he had put together, labeled “The Bounty Within”. This binder, available at the garden entrance, identified and profiled various weeds, highlighting their potential usefulness in the garden, albeit in moderation. The idea is to embrace and utilize these often overlooked plants without letting them overrun the garden. Egbert’s gardening journey began in the late 1960s, during a cultural shift towards self-reliance, an ethos that Ali Mathews also embraced. Influenced by the likes of Ruth Stout and Robert Rodale, Egbert recounted his experiences growing diverse crops from his Massachusetts apartment to cultivating a variety of plants in New Mexico.

Drawing from historical influences, Egbert, after joining the Chuckanut Center in 2018, proposed the idea of reintroducing the Victory Garden concept. However, his vision was a contemporary twist on the traditional wartime gardens. Ever the enthusiast, Egbert collaborated with Mathews and soon, a group of six individuals came together, dedicating their efforts to a food bank-centric program.

Mathews explained that over time, the process of distribution has evolved at Chuckanut Center. “Currently, we harvest every Tuesday, cleanse the produce, and record its weight. The produce then finds its way to either the Food Bank, the Lighthouse Mission – a significant soup kitchen and shelter, or any of the three tiny homes in Bellingham, which are dedicated to providing temporary housing for the homeless and assisting them in transitioning to more stable living arrangements.” The garden’s annual contribution, approximated at 1,000 lbs., is indeed noteworthy. Techniques like drip irrigation and the availability of an onsite compost source, fondly referred to as the “fertility bank”, have been instrumental in this achievement.

In recent years, the Chuckanut Center has collaborated with another local non-profit, Sustainable Connections, as part of their food rescue initiative. Mathews shared, “They recover food from restaurants that would otherwise be discarded and redistribute it to those in need.” A grand celebration is in the works to mark the recovery of a million pounds of food that would have otherwise ended up as waste. The spirit of community and giving extends further. “We have a partnership with the middle school across the street. The students have their own plots in our garden. With the guidance of a dedicated teacher and my assistance, these young gardeners have been actively involved in volunteering and have taken up projects like cultivating sunflowers, squash, beans, and pumpkins this year.”

The essence of gardening is captured beautifully in the words:

“You can’t predict the poem, but in gardening consciousness the poem will erupt.”

A sentiment by Chad Sweeney, relayed via Camille Dungy. Mathews had previously introduced me to the tree collard. Contrary to my earlier belief that collard greens were predominantly a Southern USA gardening delight, the tree collard sounded almost mythical. However, my initial attempts at cultivating it failed. But this year, I realized that John Egbert’s tree collard wasn’t the towering plant I had envisioned but a compact, multi-stemmed shrub barely reaching three feet. Regardless, it’s on my gardening wishlist for the upcoming year.

My passion for exploring and sowing new seeds and plants seems boundless, even if I can’t pinpoint exactly why. Have there been setbacks? Absolutely. But the spirit to persevere persists.

The idea of ascending a ladder to pluck collards from a towering Brassica tree next year intrigues me. It might seem improbable, but with unwavering optimism, I believe, “I think I can, I think I can…”

In an age marked by distractions and divisions, Chuckanut Center’s community garden stands as a beacon of unity and hope. It serves as a testament to the immense possibilities that emerge when people come together, fostering a nurturing environment that brims with hope, generosity, fresh produce, and vibrant blooms.