Community garden leaders tour the Senior Garden in North Auburn, California
On June 29, 2024, over ten community garden leaders from seven different communities across Placer County participated in the inaugural Placer County Community Garden Tour.
The tour, conducted in a large passenger van, visited three distinct community gardens in Auburn and North Auburn: the Senior Garden, School Park Community Food Garden, and the Armed Forces Pavilion and Community Garden. Each garden showcased its unique organizational structure and purpose, providing participants diverse perspectives.
The tour was made possible by a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and their Urban & Community grant program, which Placer RCD received in 2023.
Why a Community Garden Tour
Hosting and facilitating a community garden tour is important for two primary reasons:
- Alignment with Conservation Districts’ Mission: Conservation districts aim to “…enable farmers to take the necessary cooperative action…”. From Placer RCD’s perspective, community gardeners and their leaders are a unique type of farmer. The word “conservation” literally means “to save together” or “to keep together.” Bringing community members together to encourage cooperation aligns with the DNA embedded within conservation districts.
- Support for Community Gardens: Community gardens often operate at the margins of the food system and their respective communities. Despite limited resources, they produce remarkable yields (food, culture, and community) by relying on the generosity and support of others. This reliance on community support and the ingenuity required to innovate with limited resources are strengths and vulnerabilities. The tour supports these essential characteristics of community gardens by creating a space for community garden leaders to learn from one another.
In summary, the Community Garden Tour fosters cooperation and knowledge-sharing among community gardeners, enhancing their ability to thrive and contribute to their communities.
What We Did
The tour was organized according to a modified version of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, commonly used in educational settings. The structure included three main stages:
- Framing/Preparation: This stage involved setting the stage for the experience by providing context and preparing the participants for what they would encounter.
- Experience: During this stage, participants engaged in the actual activities and events of the tour, visiting various community gardens and observing their unique features.
- Reflection: In this final stage, participants discussed and reflected on their experiences to derive insights, meaning, and learning. This reflection process, which works best with group participation, helped identify the next steps and solidify the learning outcomes.
Framing
The tour began at the Placer RCD office in Auburn, CA. Participants registered and enjoyed refreshments sourced from local farms and businesses. Introductions occurred in a welcoming circle, where participants shared their names, representative gardens, and feelings about the day ahead.
Andrew Justus-Fritz, the Community and Conservation Director, then set the tone for the day. He led the group through a simple embodiment exercise, inviting participants to illustrate what conservation looked like. Each person offered a similar “keeping together” symbol by hugging things close to their chest.
Before the tour, each hosting community garden was asked to share information about their purpose, history, and a story highlighting the successes and challenges they had faced. This preparation helped set the context for the tour and enriched the overall experience.
Experience
After framing the day, participants and Placer RCD staff loaded into a 15-passenger van to embark on the day’s activities. The first stop was the Senior Garden (Auburn Golden Gardeners). Under the shade of a new structure, Todd Aleckson, the president of the Senior Garden, and Dave Faoro, its vice president, along with others, shared the garden’s history and purpose. The garden was bustling with life as many gardeners tended to their plots. A butterfly expert, who regularly surveys and records the butterflies in the garden, was also present. Located at the Placer County Government Center, the Senior Garden provides a community space for senior gardeners and partners with a nearby Placer County department that works with youth volunteers, creating an intergenerational space. One unique feature of this garden is its ability to process larger quantities of compost due to its generous space.
The second stop was the School Park Community Food Garden. Sue Ingle, a board director, led us through the organizational setup of the garden and discussed future goals and aspirations. Participants leaned in, literally taking a step forward, as they embraced the hopes and challenges that community gardens often face. Located between the Auburn City Building and School Park, this garden offers a beautiful space with garden beds and an outdoor meeting area. Notable features include an art wall, a stunning gate, and a public outdoor space under a vegetated pergola overlooking School Park.
The third stop was the Armed Forces Pavilion and Community Garden, which is only a block away. This unique space is open to the public and features a labyrinth, various artworks, memorials, and symbols recognizing veterans. The garden emphasizes cultural and spiritual elements, offering a sense of healing to visitors. Given its public nature, questions about vandalism arose. The garden maintains security through community vigilance, with many eyes on the space and clear signage communicating what is permissible and off-limits.
Reflection
As the tours of each community garden concluded, participants gathered to discuss their observations and discoveries. Several key reflections emerged:
- Structure is Important: Participants noted that physical structures and design were as crucial to each community garden as the food being grown. These structures enabled gardeners to perform their tasks effectively. For example, the Senior Garden provided shade and a place for community during rest breaks, while the Armed Forces Pavilion and Community Garden offered a labyrinth for healing and reflection.
- Art is Desired: It was agreed that art, whether currently displayed or not, is a vital cultural element that enhances the meaning and beauty of a space. Each community garden recognized the importance of incorporating art to enrich the environment.
- Keeping Together: One participant highlighted the importance of community garden leaders supporting each other, especially during challenging times. This sentiment underscored the desire for mutual aid and cooperation among the leaders.
Next Steps
This community garden tour is the first of at least two planned for this year. A second tour is being organized for the fall. It will either travel to the Sacramento Valley, visit Roseville, Rocklin, and Loomis gardens, or head up the mountain to explore gardens in Colfax, Foresthill, and Dutch Flat.
In Summary
On June 29, 2024, over ten community garden leaders from seven different communities across Placer County participated in the inaugural Placer County Community Garden Tour. The tour, supported by a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), visited three distinct community gardens in Auburn and North Auburn, providing diverse perspectives on organizational structures and purposes. Organized according to a modified version of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, the tour included framing/preparation, experience, and reflection stages. Participants engaged with garden leaders and learned about their histories and challenges. They reflected on key insights such as the importance of physical structures, the value of art, and the need for mutual support among community garden leaders. The tour fostered cooperation and knowledge-sharing, enhancing the participants’ ability to thrive and contribute to their communities. A second tour is planned for the fall: visiting gardens in the Sacramento Valley or exploring gardens up the mountain.
