Guest Blog Post by Clara Davis, Community Gardener
The idea of gardening had occupied a tiny corner of my mind for quite some time, but the idea of growing my own “clean” organic vegetables did not come full circle until late fall and early winter of 2016. I was confronted with what could have become a serious physical challenge that turned my attention to eating organically. At the time, I would buy organically grown fruits and vegetables, but it was draining on my budget. Eating organic is expensive, but I was determined to eat as clean as possible. That desire, combined with the following experience, motivated me more than anything to become involved in gardening.
In 2016, a visit to my physician showed that I was suffering from a thyroid deficiency and was referred to an endocrinologist. During several conversations with the endocrine specialist, I learned how, due to chemicals and pesticides used in growing our food, much of what we eat causes damage to the endocrine system in general and to the thyroid gland specifically. I made it my mission to learn all I could about organic gardening and its effect on health and wellness, with emphasis on the thyroid gland.
During this time, a friend began to share produce from her community garden bed. As our conversations about her garden continued, I became very interested in starting a garden bed of my own. Another gardener also shared produce from her garden during her 2017 mid-spring harvest. By this point, I was super interested in the idea of becoming a community gardener.
Still I continued my research, seeking to find the cause of the thyroid problem. I learned of the horrendous amount of chemicals and pesticides being dumped in our environment and put into our food, especially fruits and vegetables. I didn’t live under a rock, but I had no idea of the amount of damage being done to the body through our food. Further research indicated that we should be exceptionally mindful of what we eat. Chemicals and pesticides in our food have a devastating effect on the endocrine system. So, becoming an organic gardener was a no-brainer. On May 5, 2019, I met with Jacob Rutz, Camden Street Learning Garden’s Urban Agriculture Coordinator, filled out the necessary paperwork and on May 12, 2019, I planted my first garden, consisting of tomatoes, eggplant, okra, peppers, and zucchini.
I discerned that Jacob would be a delightful person to work with, and both he and Kay Coleman, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Urban Agriculture Manager, have exceeded my expectations. They help make the garden experience a thing of joy.
Through Jacob and Kay and the practical experience of gardening, I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and know-how in the short time I’ve been a gardener. Specifically, and with great excitement, I have learned how to use a variety of herbs in my cooking, as well as making tinctures for medicinal purposes. I’ve learned the correct way to freeze fresh vegetables. I’ve gained knowledge about the importance of having the correct soil composition for planting. I’ve also learned the value in pruning the plants – they grow and produce better.
In my community garden bed, I am growing a mixture of vegetables. I share with my neighbors, but I also keep quite a few for myself. In fact, I’ve had to purchase a freezer to handle the bounty of my produce. I have learned to be more creative in preparing my veggies, experimenting with various oils, herbs and spices. One of the things I value in gardening is the wonderful satisfaction in knowing that I’m feeding my body fresh, clean, healthy, nutritious foods – straight from Mother Earth – grown without chemicals or pesticides, not stored or warehoused and not sprayed with any pesticides. Ultimately, as a result of eating clean, my thyroid deficiency was normalized.
I love the garden. It is such a spiritual place; a place of profound serenity and peace, so much so that several of us gather bi-weekly and pray for the garden, for each other, the staff, sponsors, and for the community at large. I truly value this non-working time together. As a result, I have gotten to know my fellow gardeners on a more personal level. What I value most out of my gardening experience is the camaraderie and the wonderful relationships that have come out of my being a member of the Camden Street Community Garden. My prayer is that I can become a catalyst in helping others to understand what a blessing it is on all levels to be an “Organic Gardener.”
