Hey everyone! It’s almost 10 PM on Saturday night, and I’m still buzzing from what happened at the garden today. I had to sit down and share this with you because honestly, I’m blown away by what our community pulled off.

The Numbers Keep Growing (And So Does Our Gratitude!)

Last weekend was our opening day, and over 35 people showed up. Thirty-five! I was already over the moon about that turnout. Then today? Another 25+ people came out to get their hands dirty and help make magic happen.

The fact that we’re seeing this kind of sustained energy, week after week, tells me something incredible is happening here. People aren’t just curious about what we’re doing – they’re invested. They’re becoming part of something bigger than any one project or garden bed.

Operation Watermelon Man: An All-Hands-On-Deck Story

So here’s the thing – we have this absolutely magnificent 8-foot tall upcycled metal sculpture that we call “Mr. Watermelon Man.” He was donated to us in our first year by a company called Iron Ivy (they used to be at 10 Mile and Gratiot), created by sculptor Donna Jalsoky. This guy has actual Hulk hands that still make sound to this day. I’m not kidding (Shout out to Ron LaForest for bringing us by a set of gloves he found in his basement last year.)

He’s been standing guard near the front of our property, facing 9 Mile, but with all our new improvements – the concrete holding bins for wood chips and soil, the new U-Pick garden beds we’re putting in so people can grab fresh veggies 24/7 without asking anyone – we needed to give him a new home.

The challenge? Moving a ~600 pound metal sculpture bolted to a 4-inch thick concrete slab about 5-6 feet and rotating him a quarter turn clockwise so he faces east instead of south.

When I say it was a team effort, I mean it. Jeff, who has experience with this kind of thing, took the lead, and six of us strategically positioned ourselves around this massive sculpture, working together like we’re moving a piano up three flights of stairs, except it’s an artistic watermelon man with Hulk hands in the middle of a community garden.

And you know what? We did it. Because that’s what happens when you’ve got a community that shows up for each other.

A Birthday, A Cake, and the Most Beautiful Gift

Speaking of Jeff – today was extra special because we celebrated his 40th birthday right there in the garden. Kat made him a cake from scratch (because of course she did), and a bunch of us pooled our money to commission something really special.

We hired an artist named Dan Knighton to create an acrylic on canvas portrait of Rory, Jeff’s dog, wearing one of Jeff’s own hats. When Jeff saw it, he was completely blown away. His message in our group chat later said it all: “This is the most touching gift I think I’ve ever gotten. I’ll cherish it and our friendship forever.” (If you’re reading this -we love you Jeff 💚)

That’s what I’m talking about. That’s the heart of what we’re building here – not just garden beds and compost bins, but real connections, real friendships, real community.

The Work That Gets Done When People Care

While we were pulling off Operation Watermelon Man, so much else was happening:

Katie was in full tour guide mode, showing three different folks around the garden who stopped by wanting to learn more about volunteering. She and Craig filled up four U-pick beds with compost, then she, Nico, and Sarah got two of them planted. Plus she was manning our first produce stand of the season – and what a debut it was! We harvested more than 6 pounds of radishes, bringing our yearly total to a rolling 36.45 pounds. We’re slowly but surely inching toward our record-breaking goal of 2,000 pounds this year! Katie gave away all those fresh radishes and seedlings to anyone who wanted them. (And yes, she took plenty of breaks to pet Rory because priorities, right?)

Nick had one of those perfectly productive garden days – planted a second round of beet seeds, helped with the U-pick beds, helped move Watermelon Man, and got interviewed by a reporter from the American Psychiatric Association. Then he caught up with Lynn, one of our longtime renters who doubled her plot from 2 to 4 beds this year. Oh, and he ate pizza. Can’t forget the donated pizza from TaxPlan -thanks Steve 🍕

Jen was busy with Bill and our other volunteers working in the giving garden – the heart of our operation where we grow produce specifically to donate to the community.

New rental bed friends were getting their hands dirty, planting their first crops and figuring out what this whole community garden thing is about.

And through it all, we were sifting soil, measuring spaces for the new U-pick beds, and finishing up our pallet fence so the neighbor’s dogs stop trying to get too close to our visitors.

The Big Picture Stuff That Makes My Heart Full

Here’s what really gets me excited: we’re not just growing vegetables. We’re growing something much bigger.

Those U-pick beds we’re installing? They’re going to let people grab fresh produce 24/7 without having to ask permission or weigh anything. Just walk up, pick what you need, and go. That’s accessibility. That’s community support in action.

The new hanging signs we’re putting up for our sponsors and friends of the garden? Those are going to be CNC-routed plaques that we’ll give to our supporters at the end of the year. Because when people invest in this community, we want to make sure they know how much it means.

The fact that we’re attracting reporters and new volunteers and longtime renters expanding their plots? That tells me we’re onto something that matters.

What’s Next and How You Fit In

We’re here every Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and honestly, we could use more hands like yours. Whether you want to help with the physical work, lead tours for curious visitors, or just hang out and be part of the conversation, there’s a place for you here.

No experience needed. No pressure. Just show up if you can, and we’ll figure out how to put your talents to good use.

We’ve got people who love getting their hands dirty, people who prefer the planning and organizing side of things, and people like me who know zero about gardening but love the mission. All of it matters.

The Real Harvest

At the end of the day, sure, we moved a 600-pound sculpture, celebrated a birthday, planted seeds, built infrastructure, and gave tours. But what we really harvested was something you can’t measure in pounds of produce.

We harvested community. We harvested friendship. We harvested the kind of connections that make Jeff tear up over a portrait of his dog, and make 25 people show up on a Saturday to dig in the dirt on one of their only days off.

That’s the crop I’m most proud of. And there’s always room for more to grow.

Come join us next Saturday. Let’s see what we can grow together.

The Eastpointe Community Garden is located at 16425 E 9 Mile Rd, Eastpointe, MI 48021 and is open every Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. No experience necessary, just bring yourself and we’ll put you to work (or bring a book and we’ll let you read under a tree)! For more info, visit our landing page or just show up – we’ll be the ones probably trying to move something heavy while laughing about it.

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