I am the garden manager for Sycamore Community Garden which serves refugee and low income populations. Every year we organize a plant giveaway, and this year I reached out to individuals as well as local schools. Teachers had planned to grow the plants in science classrooms, using them as an opportunity to teach kids about botany, soil health and goodwill. But when the schools closed, due to coronavirus, I wasnโt sure we would have enough plants for all of our gardeners. I checked in with all of the growers and to my surprise, many schools told me- yes!- we will still be growing! Teachers had decided to take the plants home and make it happen. Now, Iโm not talking about a few plants. Iโm talking about anywhere between 50 to over 1,000 plants to care for. This is no small undertaking. Sure enough, come plant giveaway week, the plant drop offs came rolling in. I want this to be read by all, because the small acts that add up to something great, are not always heard.
But we must remember, to borrow words from the Dalai Lama, โIf you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!โ
Below are the names of all who participated and the number of plants grown:
Suzy Seagroves from Bishop Brady High; Kavita Whitney, more than 500;ย Mary Kate Hartwell from Manchester West Highschool, 150;ย CSI Charter School/ Merrimack Valley Middle School Garden Club, 200 plants and dropped off extra from their plant sale;ย Winnisquam Agricultural Center and Jennifer Soltzer-Jones, 120;ย Doug Hicks from Shaker Road School, more thanย 1,000;ย Stephanie Bowser organized with teachers in Concord district middle schools,ย 550; teachers Barbara O’Brien Lane, James Pike, Jessica Webb, Erica Izzi, Paige Belanger, Meg Brown, Jessica Heath, Mike Pelletier, Rebecca Taylor, Missy Noyes;ย Project SEE team were Stephanie Bowser, Melissa Bolton, and Sarah Bengtson;ย Sheila Morris with 4H groups, 500; Concord area Girl Scout troops 20507, 20368, 10162, 60264, 58245, 22292;ย Stacy Luke with Merrimack County Conservation Districtย donated fertilizer and over 2,000 seedlings grown by local farmers who donated to New Hampshire’s gleaning program;ย Martha Clark, 220;ย Abbie Perry, 50;ย Sarah Prothero, 50; Sandy Blanchard, 200; and Belinda Nerl, 70.
Thank you, to all our growers. You are small but mighty!
If you are interested in volunteering for Sycamore Community Garden in the future, please email Sycamorecommunitygarden@gmail.com
With gratitude,
Kaylin Lustig