Summer is flying by so quickly it's overwhelming to reflect on all of the incredible things that the youth team (aka Garden Support Squad) has been doing. Our demonstration garden has undergone a such a transformation. In the last few weeks it seems like everything has been bursting with new growth. If you can get past the dirt and withstand the mosquitoes, gardening opens the door to a world of tranquility, curiosity, and fulfillment. It is such a rich learning experience to watch a plant develop from a tiny seed into something as huge as a pumpkin or as complex as a broccoli. The highlight for me so far has been watching the participants, their kids, and the youth team develop a sense of curiosity in how our food grows. Some plants grow effortlessly, like kale, lettuce, and potatoes. While others threaten to wilt if you look at them sideways. We're so used to seeing our food come in uniform shapes, and our tastebuds are used to the same flavours. Gardening challenges people to try new things, and to appreciate how beautiful and diverse the plant world can be. We are creatures of habit that it's easy to forget that at some point most things we eat started out as a little speck in a pile of dirt.
I can't wait for everything to ripen so we can share our garden successes with friends and family!
