I just got back from doing some garden work with BLAST Local. It’s great to get out into the surrounding community and work with people in the gardens. I always enjoy getting out to see some of our work on the ground and to divide up my time in the office.

First, we went to Sportsmen’s Tennis Camp where, each week, I have gone with the BLAST interns to work with the campers to create a wonderful garden. Some of the Sportsmen’s Staff has been great at helping us set up the garden and recruiting kids from the camp to work. With some of the 5 and 6 year olds, we like to dig holes in a dirt pile which, although seemingly pointless and boring, quickly becomes a rewarding activity. The kids have a blast, and we enjoy watching them and working with them. Teaching them that, instead of digging individual holes and fighting over tools, we could dig a super big hole together produced some amazing teamwork. And a big hole we did dig! With some of the older kids – ranging from about 7 to 12 – we have done projects, including building scarecrows, making signs for the garden, watering, and weeding. This week, we played some games and helped them get ready to harvest all that is growing!

Next, we went to a halfway house where we have been maintaining a garden. Each week, we do a little upkeep and harvest all of the vegetables that are ready to eat. Then, we take those into the house, wash them, and leave them on the kitchen table. It is great to see how much you can grow on their garden and how beautiful and full the garden is. It seems like the people living nearby enjoy the scrumptious goods and sights and sounds of the garden.

Now, as I close this diary entry, I hope that our work on these gardens is making it into the diaries of many other people.