Holy humidity, Batman! Mother Nature decided to throw us our first official 90-degree day of the season today, and let me tell you – it felt like gardening inside a slow cooker. But you know what? Our amazing community showed up anyway, and honestly, that’s why I love these people so much.

When I Got There, Bill and Jen Were Already Being Legends

I rolled up to the garden around 10 AM, and Bill and Jen were already deep in the trenches (literally weeding them). These two don’t mess around! Despite the weather trying its best to turn us all into human raisins, we managed to accomplish some pretty incredible stuff.

Today’s harvest haul:

• 9 pounds of mammoth peas (Bill wasn’t kidding – these beauties are living up to their name!)
• Almost 3 pounds of spring blush peas
• Fresh beets and strawberries
• A handful of radishes (thanks to Coley’s magic touch!)

But here’s what got me really excited – our blueberry plants have their very first blueberries of the season! Sure, there’s only about nine little blue gems total, but I’m practically bouncing. First fruit of the season hits different, you know?

New Friends in the Heat

The temperature might have kept some peeps indoors (and honestly, I don’t blame them), but we had some wonderful visitors brave the sauna-like conditions. A new friend discovered us through Eastpointe City Hall – whoever’s spreading the word over there deserves a medal! As an experienced gardener herself, she clicked instantly with Bill and Jen. I love watching fellow plant lovers connect over a shared harvest.

We also had a family from St. Clair stop by to check out what we’re up to. Word is continuing to spread, and that makes my heart as full!

Golden Moments (And Golden Raspberries)

Bill donated some golden raspberry plants to the garden last week, and this morning we ended up snacking on the fresh berries while discussing tomato trellising. Sun-warmed berries while planning garden infrastructure? That’s my kind of multitasking right there.

Around noon, I had to bounce over to help at the very first garden party at South Warren Community Garden – talk about a historic day! I came back around 5 PM to grab all the leftover produce from our free stand and got it over to Katie’s house. She’s connecting it with a local church’s outreach program, so a whole grocery bag stuffed with peas is headed to community members who’ll appreciate every single pod.

Bill Said It Best

Even with smaller numbers due to the heat, the people who showed up brought serious energy. Coley planted cucumbers and harvested alongside everyone else. Bill and Jen kept the momentum going strong. Our newest visitor dove into the pea harvest like she’d been coming for months. I love how welcoming this garden has become!

Bill summed it up perfectly in our group chat: “Today was a glorious day.” And you know what? Despite the sweat, despite feeling like we were gardening in a giant outdoor oven, he’s absolutely right. Days like this remind me why we started Urban Seed and the ECG in the first place.

What’s Growing (Besides My Appreciation for AC)

• Zucchini transplants are in the ground (get ready for the great zucchini abundance of 2025!)
• Tomatoes are getting trellised and looking happy
• First blueberries are ripening
• New connections are sprouting faster than our spring crops

Come Sweat With Us Next Week!

Every Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM, we’re out here at the Eastpointe Community Garden doing what we love – growing food, growing community, and apparently building our heat tolerance. No experience needed, just bring some water and maybe a hat.

Whether you want to get your hands dirty, learn something new, or just hang out under our shade trees with a good book (yes, that totally counts as volunteering!), there’s a place for you here.

Come join us – I promise the produce is worth the perspiration!

#UrbanSeed #CommunityGarden #EastpointeStrong #GrowingTogether #HeatWaveHeroes