How do you give back to the community with your gardening skills?

[starshinesis]

Growing up my mom had hundreds of houseplants. Every spring she would prune them back so they would become bushier. For years, actually for several decades, she took those clippings to the elementary school and shared them with the students. For several days before she came teachers would have students rinse out and save their milk cartons. Every student got two or three cuttings from different plants for them to take home and grow. (We had about 60 kids in K-6. It was a small town.) Each year mom would have students tell her about how the plant they got from the previous year was growing. Mom started this when she had kids in the school, but they loved her coming in and she loved sharing so she continued it for years after we were all grown.

 

[Trellum]

That's just amazing To be honest my gardening skills aren't that great, but that doesn't mean I'd not give back to the community if I could. Truth is I haven't even had the chance to even think about it! I'll think of something in my new community

 

[claudine]

That's nice
I know it sounds lazy, but I don't do anything for my community First of all, my gardening skills aren't very impressive, I just grow vegetables and miniature roses. Also, most people here don't know each other. It's a big city. I've never talked to any of my neighbours and I have no idea if they're interested in plants.

 

[starshinesis]

I agree that a small town is different than a big city, but there are things you can do even in the big city. Maybe check with the school and see if you could drop off some clippings. You would probably have to do a background check to be able to interact with the kids at most schools these days. Or maybe provide a few plants or even some flowers to a nursing home. My boys and I go to a nursing home and hand out candy every once in awhile. We started by just asking one of the nurses if it was ok and they've loved seeing us every month or so ever since. Or maybe offer to tend a small garden at a nursing home or park.
Don't feel bad that you don't do anything for the community. I don't right now either. But I'm glad I have gotten a few people thinking. A little giving back is a beautiful thing. I need to get myself and my two little boys busy helping out in other ways too.

 

[DancingLady]

I don't have much time to give right now, but I know of quite a few people who donate their surplus produce to the food bank. If I had the time I think it would be fun to volunteer at one of the local parks when they are doing a lot of planting.

 

[starshinesis]

Donating produce to the food banks is a great idea. Helping with planting at local park is great too. There are so many ways to help, but I agree, finding the time can be difficult sometimes.

 

[marlingardener]

If you don't want to be tied to a specific time or a certain day, try contacting a park and see if there is an area that you could tend on your own schedule. Weeding, pruning, general tidying can be done almost anytime. The park manager can show you an area, identify the plants for you, and tell you what needs doing. This is a great way to give back to the community, and for those of you who are temporarily gardenless, a great way to get back to the dirt!

 

[Trellum]

That's nice
I know it sounds lazy, but I don't do anything for my community First of all, my gardening skills aren't very impressive, I just grow vegetables and miniature roses. Also, most people here don't know each other. It's a big city. I've never talked to any of my neighbours and I have no idea if they're interested in plants.

Hey, same here I also live in a big city, where people might see each other and and never ever see each other again! I might be moving to a small place where everyone knows everyone tho, so we will see

 

[claudine]

Hey, same here I also live in a big city, where people might see each other and and never ever see each other again! I might be moving to a small place where everyone knows everyone tho, so we will see

Do you like it? I love living in a big city! I hope I'll never have to move out from here. I'm not a sociable person, so it doesn't bother me that I don't know my neighbors. Being anonymous can be a good thing.
What I love the most about my city is that we have so many trees, gardens and parks here

 

[Kansas Terri]

This year my cucumbers went crazy, and there were far more than we could eat! My husband brought some to work with him to give away, I gave some to the neighbors, and I gave around 100 to the food pantry.

That was impressive, considering that I only had 2 hills!

I sometimes see groups of people working in the parks or picking up garbage, but I am something of an introvert and I never really enjoyed joining groups. I DID enjoy bringing large bags of produce to the food bank!

 

[MindyT]

Every year my church has a harvest table. If anyone has extras or wants to give to the table, they bring in their "extras." Then anyone who wants something, they can take it for free. I like that. I was able to get a few tomatoes this year since my tomato plants were planted too late this year.

 

[Trellum]

Do you like it? I love living in a big city! I hope I'll never have to move out from here. I'm not a sociable person, so it doesn't bother me that I don't know my neighbors. Being anonymous can be a good thing.
What I love the most about my city is that we have so many trees, gardens and parks here

I like it a lot, but sometimes I see some disadvantages, but then I remember how it is when you live in a place where everyone knows everyone I don't like it, I actually dread the fact I might be moving to a place like that soon... such a tiny place Because like you... I like my space and privacy!

 

[claudine]

I like it a lot, but sometimes I see some disadvantages, but then I remember how it is when you live in a place where everyone knows everyone I don't like it, I actually dread the fact I might be moving to a place like that soon... such a tiny place Because like you... I like my space and privacy!

Maybe it won't be that bad! If it's a tiny town, at least you'll be surrounded by beautiful nature. Fields and woods are much prettier than cars and streets
However, I think that I would never agree to move to a place where everyone knows everyone. It would be too hard for me

 

[starshinesis]

Every year my church has a harvest table. If anyone has extras or wants to give to the table, they bring in their "extras." Then anyone who wants something, they can take it for free. I like that. I was able to get a few tomatoes this year since my tomato plants were planted too late this year.

I love that idea Mindy. More churches should do that. I will spread the word.

 

[ACSAPA]

I love that idea Mindy. More churches should do that. I will spread the word.

I agree, that is a really cool idea and I wish that the churches around here would do that. At my old place, we had an abundance of mangoes that nobody picked, so they ended up rotting on the ground. It would have been nice to pick the extras and give them to someone who would use them.