Good Neighbors Garden

By Ryan R. Ennis

Good Neighbor's Garden

BY NATURE, WE ARE SOCIAL BEINGS. TEAMWORK GIVES US A SENSE OF BELONGING.

But when it comes to weeding and planting, we often find ourselves doing these tasks alone. The general notion is that the more we socialize in the yard, the less we will get done. The members of the Good Neighbors’ Garden uphold a different view. Their belief is that when we share our passion for plants by gardening in groups, we are motivated to accomplish more.

Originally located in Oak Park, the Good Neighbors’ Garden secured a lease from the City of Ferndale in 2016 and moved that year to an empty green space near the edge of Martin Park. At the new setting, the organization continues its mission “to encourage, support, and promote a relationship between individ-uals, families, and the earth through gardening, education, and events.” With its 29 private plots and more than 15 communal plots, the land supplies members with opportunities to grow food for their families and become involved in collective gardening projects.

PRESENTLY, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS APPROXIMATELY 40 MEMBERS who pay yearly fees to use the land for varying purposes. “Some of the gardeners have joined because their yards are not big enough to grow their own food,” said long-time member and Ferndale resident Sally Smith.

“But you don’t have to have a plot to be part of the garden. You can just be a member and work on the communal plots.” On the common plots, Smith and others cultivate flowers, tend to the plants in the Monarch butterfly waystation, and grow a variety of fruit and vegetables.

For convenience, the site has a shed where the members can store their gardening tools. While the organization has to pay the City of Ferndale to access the water, they receives free delivery of compost for the garden from SOCCRA (Southeast Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority), a municipal corporation whose site in Rochester Hills processes biode-gradable yard waste into rich soil.

Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings are the prime occasions when the members gather to chat and care for their flowers and crops. Witnessing all the fun that the members are having, “passers-by in the park will frequently stop by the fence and ask questions” about their plots, said Smith. During these occasions, the members will offer to give impromptu tours to satisfy the curiosities of the park’s visitors. Like butterflies to milkweed, the tours help to attract new members who want in on action.

ONE IMPRESSED OBSERVER WHO LATER BECAME ONE OF THE COMMUNITY GARDENERS is Mark James. “My ex-wife turned me on to it (about four years ago),” he explained. “We would walk by with our dogs, and I noticed the garden’s beauty. There were so many flowers I had never seen before. They were mesmerizing, and I knew I wanted to get involved.” So, he emailed Marilyn Rubin, one of the founders, who helped him join.

Because of his rewarding experiences, James maintains an active membership: “When I’m out working in the garden, it’s a nice meditation for me. It makes me feel grounded.” On his plot, he nurtures a trellis of morning glories. Some of the other flowers and crops sprouting in his section include carrots, cucumbers, squash, lavender, and irises.

On Saturdays, his daughters sometimes accompany him to Martin Park, which he calls “a beautiful, sprawling space.” At the park, his daughters learn about the natural world. As they watch him garden, “they get to see that food comes from the ground, not grown in a can or the grocery store’s freezer section,” he explained. “The neighborhood activities give us a sense of community and keep the kids occupied with something worthwhile, as opposed to being buried in a screen,” referring to electronic devices.

With summer approaching, Smith, James, and the other members have used the evenings and mornings they assemble at the park to discuss their future events. Starting in June, they will be dividing the garden’s overgrown and crowded plants. The plants will be placed in bags or reusable pots and then set outside the fence along with a FREE PLANTS sign.

“Throughout the summer, we’ll also be setting out extra food from our harvests for the public to take,” said Smith. “The offerings draw a lot of people. When they see us working, they stop at the fence and often make comments about how nice the garden looks.”.

AFTER EXPRESSING THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE PLANTS AND FOOD, the onlookers frequently ask questions about the characteristics of the diverse flowers and crops they see growing on the different plots or raised beds. As with the impromptu tours, these interactions often lead to the gardening community gaining new members, according to Smith.

Another item on the summer agenda is to rebuild the raised beds whose wooden structures need repairs. While the members are fixing the beds, they will be considering how to make them more practical and economical for accommodating new gardeners. One proposal is to allow the gardeners to rent half of a plot, which would decrease the yearly dues for maintaining an active membership status.

“We are always thinking about affordability,” said Smith. “It’s always been a priority to include as many people as we can.” n

If you would like to learn more about the membership guidelines, or show the organization your support with a donation, visit goodneighborsgarden.org.

uded with a smile that it's good to see a few newer businesses open up in Ferndale, such as Olive's Bloombox on 9 Mile, and Quix Chocolate on Troy St.

Flip Salon is located at 251 W.9 Mile Rd., Ferndale. Call them at: 248.544.1400. Email inquiries can be sent to: jeremy@flipsaloninc.com. Visit their website: www.flipsaloninc.com. Open hours: Sun, Mon, Closed; Tues, 9am-2pm; Weds, Thurs, 10am-9pm; Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat, 9am-5pm. Flip Salon is currently hiring- contact Irene Petts for application details.