Sometimes the best evenings are the ones that remind you exactly why you fell in love with community gardening in the first place. Last night’s 14th Annual Harvest Potluck at the Eastpointe Community Garden was one of those magical evenings where everything just clicked – the food, the music, the conversations, and especially the spontaneous moments that make you remember what it means to be neighbors.

When the Sun Goes Down, the Magic Comes Up

By 5:30, Kat and Cola had already transformed our shelter area into something special. Warming stations for all the potluck dishes, fresh tablecloths on the picnic tables, ice in the coolers, and chips ready to go. They were a few minutes early, but in the best possible way – because almost immediately, people started flowing in.

And then we got to test out those brand new lights Steve and his friend had spent the day installing with our solar panel project. Holy wow! They’re so much brighter than we expected and completely transform the garden as darkness settles in. There’s something about good lighting that makes everything feel more intimate and connected.

The Community Shows Up (As Always)

Hal Newnan rolled up to celebrate with us – and if you don’t know Hal, he’s been one of our huge supporters for the South Warren Community Garden and serves on city council. We surprised him with a big sponsor sign because friends of the garden deserve recognition, especially ones who show up consistently to cheer us on.

Molly brought along a family from one of her child’s friends, and watching kids discover the hammock and run around the garden as the evening settled in? That’s pure joy right there. There’s something about seeing the garden through children’s eyes that reminds you how special this space really is.

Music, Fire, and Stories

As the evening progressed and darkness crept in, Bill and Jen got a bonfire going. Nothing brings people together quite like flames and the chance to share stories from the season. But the real surprise came when Coley and her husband Dickey stopped by, and Dickey brought his ukulele.

He and his son played little songs for us as we sat around the fire. I tried to convince Dickey to serenade me personally, but apparently I’m not quite charming enough for a private concert! Still, having live music floating through the garden as people shared food and stories – that’s the kind of evening you remember for years.

The Moment That Stopped Everything

Right in the middle of dinner, a gentleman rolled up on his bike. Without missing a beat, we asked if he was hungry and offered him a plate. The look on his face was priceless – he was genuinely taken aback by the generosity. He asked if we belonged to a church group, and we explained that nope, we’re just people in the area who like to get together and do nice things for the community.

He seemed to have a really difficult time understanding that something outside of a church could come together and still do something beneficial for people other than themselves. Which honestly makes me feel incredible, because you don’t need a church to do something nice for your neighbors. You just have to care about them and meet them where they are.

He ended up grabbing a plate, hanging out and chatting with us for a while before heading off into the evening. Those are the moments that remind you exactly what community gardening is all about.

Blueprints and Connections

One of my favorite volunteers from the South Warren Community Garden, Sam, stopped by for her first visit to Eastpointe. Walking her around and giving her the tour was fascinating, because she’s been helping build Warren based on our blueprint, but she’d never seen the original.

Her reaction was perfect: “Now the South Warren Community Garden makes so much more sense! When we all came together and started building it, you guys seemed like you knew exactly what you were doing, like you were following a blueprint or something. And now that I see the Eastpointe Garden, it makes total sense.”

Exactly! We talked about how Warren will eventually grow up to be essentially its own version of what Eastpointe has become over the last decade and change. It’s incredible to see our framework spreading and taking root in new communities.

The Food (Obviously)

Bill made Northern Georgia candy squash for the first event – and let me tell you, it was absolutely magical. Everyone brought dishes that showed off the best of what we’ve been growing and preserving all season. The warming stations kept everything perfect, and there’s something about eating food that came from dirt you’ve worked with your own hands that just hits different.

The whole evening flowed from dinner to bonfire to music to conversations that stretched until about 9 PM. People pulled up chairs, kids played, stories got shared, and everybody left feeling more connected than when they arrived.

Fourteen Years of This

It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this harvest celebration for fourteen years now. From those early days in 2012 to this magical evening with solar panels and ukulele serenades – we’ve grown so much more than just vegetables here. We’ve grown a community that shows up for each other, welcomes strangers with plates of food, and creates the kind of evening that reminds you what’s possible when people come together around something beautiful.

Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who brought food, everyone who helped set up and clean up, and everyone who makes this garden the heart of our community it’s become. Here’s to fourteen more years of growing together!