Conclusion
Our Community Gardens Project Team set out with the objective to discover, document, and celebrate the diversity of the 14 Community Gardens in Cambridge. In this process, we were not evaluating the gardens, but describing them. We looked at where they are located; their history; what they look like; who the gardeners are; what is being grown; how they are owned and managed; and if there are identified problems or any changes that could improve the functioning of the gardens. We spent two years, 2020 and 2021, delving into the gardens, and getting to know the gardeners and their stories.
FINDINGS What became obvious to us was that these gardens make a significant contribution to the well-being and enjoyment of the residents of Cambridge. This program essentially provides a place where residents can enjoy growing their own vegetables and flowers. Other bonuses include forming friendships and discovering a community. There is also the opportunity to learn more about gardening from fellow gardeners and by experimenting with new plants. What surprised us was that we found each of the 14 gardens to be unique. There is no one model for these Community Gardens. The City owns the land for all but three gardens which are held by different entities (a private corporation, MIT, and Harvard). The City also provides basic services: water; mulch and compost if requested; rodent control in limited cases; and occasional tree and bush pruning and removal. The director of the Cambridge Conservation Commission, which oversees the program, also acts as the part-time staff member who serves as the coordinator for the Community Gardens Program. But the gardens differ a great deal in many ways. They were created at different times, in different circumstances, and in different neighborhoods. They may be said to reflect the variety typical of Cambridge. Some gardens are very small, no more than 30 x 100 feet in size, while others are larger. Some have long histories up to 50 years old with well-established practices, while others were created within the last few years and are still trying to find their way. Gardens in West and North Cambridge tend to be larger and more homogeneous while those in East and Central Cambridge tend to be smaller with more diverse populations. As devoted gardeners ourselves, the members of the CP&GC Community Gardens Committee were inspired and heartened by the skill, commitment, and imagination of the individual gardeners. Each individual plot is a miniature garden in itself, with many gardeners adding trellises and ornaments. Gardeners grow plants from seed and cultivate hard-to-find vegetables native to their cultures. We were also heartened by the comfort the gardens provided during COVID-19.
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