Bottom line up front: We absolutely crushed it! Despite 90-degree heat and not even having all our beds ready, 16-20 amazing humans showed up to make magic happen at our brand new South Warren Community Garden. This was community gardening at its finest, folks!

The Day That Changed Everything

I rolled up to the South Warren Community Garden around noon on what turned out to be the first 90-degree day of the year. Honestly? I was wondering if anyone would brave that kind of heat to help us build something from scratch. Boy, was I wrong!

The scene that greeted me was absolutely incredible. People were already there – folks from our Eastpointe Community Garden family alongside brand new faces who’d been following our journey on Facebook. My conservative count hit 16-20 people throughout the day, and let me tell you, every single one of them came ready to work despite that blazing sun.

From Cardboard to Community Magic

We literally didn’t even have beds in the ground yet! Jeff and the team had worked their tails off the past couple days getting 4 beds prepped and ready for soil just the night before. Talk about cutting it close!

But that’s where this community really shines. Zach painted the perfect picture of how it all unfolded: we started with chatting and socializing until the cardboard arrived, then naturally split into different roles. Some folks grabbed rakes, others picked up shovels, and everyone just found their groove transporting materials around.

Meanwhile, Jeff was in full technical mode – pre-drilling holes in sheet metal sidewalls, cutting panels in half for bed ends (with Hal and Pete acting as his trusty assistants), then assembling everything right there on the sidewalk. Pete was the compost king, filling wheelbarrows and doing that detailed leveling work that makes all the difference. The man knows his soil science!

The Heat Was Real, But So Was the Heart

Let’s be honest – it was HOT. Like, seriously hot. I’m talking first-real-scorcher-of-the-year hot. I had to duck out for a few hours when I got overheated because taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of the garden.

But here’s what got me: Jocelyn, who found us on Facebook and had never interacted with any of us before, showed up ready to dig in and instantly became garden family. She jumped right into placing cardboard, leveling compost, and filling wheelbarrows!

Pete summed up what I witnessed better than I ever could – he saw “a new community in action, working, joking, sharing, caring.”

The Little Things That Made It Big

I’d brought over some supplies from Eastpointe Community Garden – a canopy for shade (thank goodness!), those canna lilies we’ve been growing to plant along the back fence for some visual pop, plus wheelbarrows, shovels, and hand trowels. Oh, and our logo flag because in 10 years, we’re gonna look back at these photos and remember exactly how it all began.

And can we talk about Hal for a second? This legend became one of our greatest supporters – not only donating generously to our efforts but surprising us with donuts and bagels from Daily Dozen Donut Shop (9 Mile and Schoenherr – if you haven’t been there, you’re missing out on life). Those strawberry glazed donuts that look like something Homer Simpson would drool over? Pure genius. We even got to share some with our neighbors across the street, which is exactly the kind of community connection we’re all about.

Media Moment & Garden Philosophy

Shortly after I arrived at noon, Susan Smiley – one of our biggest supporters and a local reporter – stopped by to do a story about what we’re building here. It’s incredible to have that kind of community backing right from day one.

We’re building all our beds using the same methods as the Eastpointe Garden – consistent lasagna bed construction throughout all our organization’s gardens. Big shout out to Bill here, who spent about a decade developing the perfect blueprint for these raised beds! Talk about dedication – the man figured it out and now we’ve got this amazing system that works like a dream 👏

This way, whether you’re working at Eastpointe or Warren, you know exactly what you’re doing. All the green beds will be giving garden beds, because sharing the harvest is what we’re all about.

Nature Was Watching Too

Zach noticed we were already seeing butterflies populating the space! Before we’d even finished the beds, nature was already welcoming us to the neighborhood. That’s the kind of sign that tells you you’re doing something right.

When the Real Magic Happened

Around 2:30, I had to bail for a heat break (smart gardening means knowing your limits!), but that’s when the crew really hit their stride. While I was cooling off somewhere with air conditioning, everyone dove into the fun part – planting time!

Here’s the beautiful part: so many folks brought plants to share that Jeff actually left with MORE plants than he showed up with! Now that’s what I call garden math – the kind where generosity multiplies faster than mint in good soil.

By the time I rolled back at 4:30, they were just wrapping up. I managed to snap some photos of the crew before we packed up everything I’d brought over. Looking around at what we’d accomplished in one blazing hot afternoon – beds built, soil moved, plants in the ground, and friendships blooming – I felt this incredible wave of momentum building.

Jeff had spent those final hours planting and, in his words, “baking his brains in the sun.” We were all pretty fried, but the good kind of fried – the kind that comes from building something meaningful with your hands and your neighbors.

What This Means Going Forward

This wasn’t just about getting beds built (though we definitely did that!). This was about proving that when you create space for community to happen, people show up. On a 90-degree day. Without being asked twice. Ready to work, share, laugh, and care for each other.

Jocelyn’s parting words really captured the whole vibe: despite the intense heat, she witnessed amazing teamwork and solid progress. Plus, she’s already looking forward to seeing everyone again! That right there? That’s what we’re building – not just garden beds, but the kind of community where strangers become family over shared soil and common purpose.

Come Join This Amazing Journey

The South Warren Community Garden is just getting started, and we want YOU to be part of this story. No experience needed – the soil doesn’t judge, and neither do we. Whether you’ve got green thumbs or can barely keep a houseplant alive, there’s a place for you here.

Follow our journey on Facebook, swing by when you see us working, or just come hang out and see what we’re all about. Trust me, once you experience this kind of community magic, you’ll understand why we can’t stop talking about it.

Next garden workday details coming soon – because this is just the beginning!

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