You know those Fridays when you check the group chat and… crickets? Bill and Jen are off living their best vacation life, and honestly, not too many folks had committed to showing up Saturday morning.

So Shay and I figured we’d roll up with zero expectations. Maybe we’d putter around a bit, harvest whatever looked ready, call it a quiet day.

The garden had other plans.

The Whiteboard That Started Everything

When we got there, we actually had a couple of newer volunteers show up – which was awesome! Newer folks always appreciate having that whiteboard with a clear list of to-dos, so we got to brainstorming what we could tackle together.

Suddenly our “quiet maintenance day” turned into an ambitious wish list that looked something like this:

• Have a dance party (because Saturday mornings need soundtrack)
• Remove the rest of that soil from the front wall
• Give the shed some love
• Harvest everything that’s ready to go
• Fill those water barrels
• Trim the trees that are getting a little too enthusiastic
• General “where did all this stuff come from?” cleanup

Lofty goals? Maybe. But when you’ve got garden magic on your side…

Mystery Gifts and Concrete Dreams

First thing I noticed when we arrived? A shiny “new” wheelbarrow sitting there like it had always belonged. Still have no clue who our wheelbarrow fairy is, but whoever you are – you’re basically our hero right now! I aired up the tire and it rolls like a dream. Sometimes the garden provides exactly what we need right when we need it.

Then Jeff showed up and decided to turn into our resident craftsman. Using nothing but scrap lumber lying around the property, this man built a concrete-top table from scratch. And I mean from scratch – measuring, cutting, mixing concrete, the whole nine yards.

Getting to watch him work and help mix that concrete? That’s the kind of hands-on learning that makes these Saturdays feel less like work and more like the world’s best community college class.

When Neighbors Become Family

But here’s where my heart really started doing happy dances.

Our friend William made his way over from Rochester to tend his rental beds. Already awesome, right? But then – plot twist – he fires up a burner and starts cooking fried green tomatoes for everyone. Just because. Just to share something delicious with his garden family.

Y’all, this is his first year with us, and he’s already embodying everything we love about this place. When someone makes the trek to garden with you and then feeds you lunch? That’s not just volunteering. That’s home.

The Magic of Fresh Eyes

Speaking of home – we had some newcomers yesterday who reminded me why I love watching people discover the garden for the first time.

Britney brought her friend Lindsay, and watching them explore the space was pure joy. I kept catching them in my peripheral vision, hearing snippets of “This is so amazing!” and “Oh my god, I love this place!” They weren’t just visiting – they were participating. Jumping right in to water plants, tidy up beds, take ownership of the space like they’d been here forever.

That first-time garden wonder? It never gets old.

Jody came back for her second week (clearly we’ve got her hooked on the garden life!). She tackled tree trimming, pulled weeds, and harvested tomatoes like she’d been doing this for years. When someone comes back for week two, you know they’ve caught the community garden bug.

Nature’s Teaching Moments

Shay turned into our unofficial nature educator yesterday, which was beautiful to watch. She helped Cola and Glenn figure out what was ready for harvest, shared plant knowledge with Britney and Lindsay, and had this amazing moment teaching Glenn about Mydas flies.

Picture this: Glenn spots these big, slightly intimidating-looking flies and gets a little nervous. Shay swoops in with the perfect explanation – “They look scary as heck, but they’re totally harmless garden friends!” Even shared a photo in our group chat of them… well, let’s just say they were very busy being garden friends. 🐛

Those moments when we get to be both students and teachers? That’s the good stuff right there.

The Art of Garden Beautification

Kat brought some serious creative energy to the day, working on these gorgeous painted tiles that are going to make the garden even more beautiful. She started with base coats last week, then yesterday added these incredible starburst designs.

Apparently TikTok was her inspiration (because of course it was!), but the execution? Pure artistic magic. Can’t wait to see where she places them throughout the garden.

And Shay? She cut herself a bouquet of flowers because sometimes you need to stop and literally smell the roses. Or whatever beautiful blooms were calling her name that day.

The Numbers That Really Matter

Here’s what makes me proudest about yesterday:

16 pounds of fresh produce harvested from our giving garden. Chard, kale, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash – all grown with love, all heading to community members who need it most.

16 families served from our produce stand. These are often the seniors in our neighborhood, folks on limited resources who make the trip to our garden not just for the fresh vegetables, but for the conversation, the connection, the reminder that they’re part of something bigger.

One incredible neighbor stopped by to drop off a whole crate of nonperishable foods and canned goods for our volunteers and community. Because apparently the spirit of giving is contagious around here.

The Real Harvest

Look, we’re obviously growing vegetables. The numbers prove that. But what we’re really cultivating? Connection. Knowledge. Joy. Community.

We’re creating a space where William drives from Rochester to cook for friends. Where Jeff can teach concrete skills while learning from others. Where newcomers feel instantly welcome and second-weekers feel like family. Where mystery wheelbarrow donations appear exactly when we need them.

We’re proving that a garden can be so much more than just plants in soil. It can be the heartbeat of a neighborhood.

When Past and Present Collide

Here’s something special that happened toward the end of the day – a couple stopped by who hadn’t visited the garden in a few years. Y’all, you should have seen their faces! They couldn’t believe how much the space has transformed.

They sang our praises for all the hard work, marveling at how what used to be… well, let’s just say a less magical version of itself… has become this thriving community hub. There’s nothing quite like seeing the garden through the eyes of someone witnessing years of growth and love in a single moment.

Come Hang With Us!

Every Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM, we’re out there making magic happen. No experience needed – the soil doesn’t judge, and neither do we. Whether you want to learn about concrete tables, discover which bugs are garden friends, paint tiles, harvest vegetables, or just sit under a tree and soak up the community vibes, you’ve got a place with us.

Because the best stories? They’re always better when they include you.

Ready to grow something beautiful together? Find us at the Eastpointe Community Garden every Saturday morning. Trust us – your Saturday routine is about to get a whole lot more awesome.

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