I rolled up to our new South Warren Community Garden around 10 AM yesterday, expecting to find maybe a couple early birds getting started. Instead, I found Jeff already deep into lawn mowing duty, and honestly? That pretty much set the tone for the entire day.

The Morning Catch-Up

Jeff filled me in on his early morning adventure. Turns out Zach knew he couldn’t make it to our garden party, so what did he do Saturday? Grabbed his lawnmower and started tackling that overgrown lawn situation. His battery died partway through – because of course it did!

So there was Jeff, finishing what Zach started. That’s just how this crew works – someone always steps up to fill the gaps.

But here’s our reality check: we’ve got to keep mowing this property, but we’re not allowed to keep a lawn mower on site. Know a landscaping company that might want to support our crazy little project? We’d be eternally grateful – seriously, we’ll name a tomato plant (or 5) after them! Hit us up through the contact page.

What I Brought to the Party

Shay and I came loaded with supplies – tent, water, snacks, and a bunch of hand tools I’d grabbed from our Eastpointe Community Garden. Since we don’t have storage at South Warren, Eastpointe is playing big brother and sharing the wealth. Every trip between gardens is like a tool migration!

Speaking of tools – got some gently used gardening stuff gathering dust in your garage? We’d love to give it a new purpose! Every donated shovel means one less thing we have to haul back and forth.

We hung out for a bit, set everything up, and then headed off for the rest of the afternoon. But apparently, that’s when the real magic started happening.

The Afternoon I Wish I’d Stayed For

According to everyone’s messages and photos, the place absolutely came alive after we left. Lauren and Nick showed up around the same time and dove straight into the native flower garden project up front. Nick’s been the driving force behind this whole native garden thing, and from the photos, it’s looking incredible.

Then came our newest volunteer – Brok. This guy found us through our website, showed up for his very first time ever, and immediately started working alongside Jocelyn to fill air pots with compost. They were getting those fantastic seedlings we scored last weekend into their permanent homes. Speaking of Jocelyn, she found us last week and has already stepped up, becoming a key player in this silly little garden. I love seeing strangers become friends over a shared commitment to growing food for the most vulnerable. Dare I say it’s my favorite part!

The Generosity Train Keeps Rolling

The community support throughout the day was absolutely incredible. Katie swung by with seeds and starter potatoes – because who doesn’t love a good potato donation? Then Kat and Cola showed up like garden fairy godparents with a mobile picnic table setup and a cooler full of ice-cold Gatorade. When you’re working in the Michigan sun, cold drinks hits different.

Even Jerry H. and his cycling buddy stopped by during their Sunday ride just to see what we were up to. There’s something beautiful about people naturally gravitating toward what we’re building.

Building More Than Gardens

While everyone was busy with plants and soil, Jeff channeled his inner lumberjack and built a bench out of a log. Because apparently that’s just a normal Sunday to-do on the list. The garden team was getting their hands dirty with peat moss for water retention – the kind of detail work that shows people really care about doing this right.

From what everyone shared, the whole scene had this perfect flow. People came and went throughout the day. Some planned to return later when the heat died down. It’s exactly that come-as-you-are vibe that makes these spaces so welcoming.

When I Came Back

I swung back around 3 PM to help pack up and grab our tent and supplies. The transformation was wild – air pots lined up with new seedlings, the native garden taking shape, people still hanging out and planning their next visits.

What Blows My Mind

This garden has been “officially” running for about one week.

• By the end of Sunday, we’d had 16 volunteers cycle through throughout the day. Sixteen!
• People are reaching out through our website wanting to volunteer.
• Community members are showing up with donations.
• Neighbors are stopping by just to see what’s happening.
• We’ve got folks planning weekly visits.

The momentum is building faster than any of us imagined.

The photos everyone shared tell the whole story – those perfectly lined air pots full of new seedlings, our crew taking well-deserved breaks under the trees, Nick working on that beautiful rock garden feature. This isn’t just about plants anymore. It’s about creating a space where community happens naturally.

What’s Next?

Nick’s already planning more mulch runs. Lauren’s got additional plants in the works. The native garden is just getting started, and I can hardly wait to see what this space looks like in a few months.

If everything works out, we’re building a bench next Sunday! Want to see how we put these things together? Swing by and learn firsthand – there’s nothing quite like figuring out which end of the drill actually works while surrounded by people who are just as clueless but twice as enthusiastic.

Come find us on a weekend morning, or just swing by anytime to see what we’re up to. The soil doesn’t judge, and neither do we. We’re just excited to grow something amazing together.

Want to get involved with South Warren or any of our Urban Seed projects? Check out our website or just show up – we’d love to have you join the crew!

The South Warren Community Garden is Urban Seed’s newest project, bringing community-driven urban agriculture to Warren, Michigan. All events are free and open to the public, because good things grow better when everyone’s invited.