As a Fargo transplant, I couldn’t wait to explore all the new opportunities for my family to get involved in the community.
And the need to maximize any and all outdoor activities became necessary after we unearthed ourselves from our first North Dakota winter.
Community Gardens in Fargo
Community gardening was at the top of my list of interests. More specifically, the Growing Together Community Gardens.
The Growing Together Community Gardens started in 2005 as a non-profit with the goal of connecting people in Fargo-Moorhead with affordable produce and developing community. Today, the eight gardens welcome both new and returning volunteers.
Gardeners sign up to work a garden at a designated two-hour time slot each week. Once an individual or a family has worked 20 hours in the garden, you start earning a portion of the weekly harvest.
I was excited to join the Growing Together gardens because I wanted a garden but we didn’t have the space for it. And I also wanted to expand my skillset beyond summer flower planting.
No Prior Gardening Experience Required
We were inexperienced — and that was ok!
It didn’t take long before I realized we were working alongside a group of individuals who had been gardening for a while. Thankfully, they were willing to teach us what they knew.
Each week our new friends offered guidance on planting, pruning, and harvesting. It was a relief to learn that it’s actually hard to mess up!
When I questioned why knowledgeable people would spend their time in a community garden, I often found they lacked space (like we did), or were inspired by their mission to help others.
By the end of the summer, everyone at the garden had an abundance of food! It was amazing to see how our land of tiny seeds had turned into a harvest, with enough for 12 families to share each week.
Fun for All Ages
What I enjoyed most of all was including our 18-month-old in the experience. The gardens are very family-friendly! And it didn’t take long for her to get the hang of how to “work.”
If I had a shovel, she had a shovel. If I was at the watering station, she was right there with me. Soon enough, she was off “helping” others in the garden too. If she wasn’t at my feet I knew I didn’t have to worry because she was usually supervising others’ work and they were more than happy to let her.
I think her favorite part of the season was befriending an older child in the group. They often looked forward to snack time and after a while it became a part of their weekly gardening routine. (We had to frequently remind them that we actually needed to work a little before the weekly social time could commence!)
Growing Our Gardening Skills Each Year
We enjoyed the gardening experience with the Growing Together Community Gardens, and we’ll be back for another season!
I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue challenging myself by growing my gardening skills and getting to do it with my family at the same time. I will also always be grateful for fresh, organic produce — especially when I can say I had a hand in growing it!
For anyone interested in more information on the Growing Together Community Garden you can visit their website. There you’ll find information on how to sign up for a garden or when to visit their annual Farmers Market, if you would rather support them with a produce purchase!
