Finding community to aid your gardening
/As I moved through my formative gardening years, I began to notice the plentiful opportunities to gather locally with other gardeners. While I have found massive benefits in belonging to various garden-based groups on Facebook, it wasn’t until I sucked up the nerve to attend my first meeting of the Canterbury Horticultural Society that I uncovered the real gold that I was missing out on.
I sat down the back of the lovely kiosk in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, well aware my red hair was intensely obvious among the softer toned heads around me. The first presenter; Christine Blance of the Christchurch South Community Garden gave a truly insightful talk about their goals, sharing images of work parties, gatherings, community impact and the resulting fresh produce that was provided.
This session was then followed by Michael Coulter, delivering his informative, monthly rundown of the recent weather conditions and excellent tips of what could be done around a garden at this specific time of year.
There were no complicated, isolating words.
No questions were too simple.
The experience wasn’t what I had thought it to be at all! I realised immediately that the CHS was as relevant to me as a new gardener as it was to other members who’d had their hands in the earth their whole life. But where were my fellow beginners?
Children’s activities with the Canterbury Horticultural Society - Photo supplied
When considering those I know in their thirties and forties, I would hazard a guess that if any belonged to a club, outside of their friendship groups, it would likely be around sports, snow, or craft.
Limited time is always the first factor in passing membership opportunities by.
Work commitments, children’s commitments, young families and busy lives are some or all of the situations that affect people for varying periods of their life. Time, and perhaps, the fact that we can so readily source information in the sporadic moments available to us via our phones, the internet and the sofa at the end of a long day. Is it that we feel we have less time than the generations above us did at the same age? Or is it just that, within our peer groups, there isn’t that lead to follow into clubs?
As someone who is a very protective of her free time, I’d like to dismantle this fear of commitment that can cloud club membership. Garden clubs, societies and groups of all shapes and forms present us options that we can simply match to the commitment we are capable of and the area of our interests.
For instance, the Canterbury Horticultural Society hold two meetings a month. One after hours and the other, mid-morning the following day. These meetings always involve invited speakers followed by garden advice and are just one part of a very active, wider offering of workshops and activities arranged by the society. All of which can be attended by non-members too!
Becoming a volunteer at a community garden will require occasional donated time and muscle but in return is the free mentorship and guidance you gain while increasing your garden skills. No experience is required and the connections and learning are unlimited.
Garden clubs are focused on arranging speakers, demonstrations or garden visits for their members while offering comradery and casual connections. These positives are invaluable to beginners that might be missing people within their family or friendship groups who are also interested in growing.
Wondering how you might discover gardening clubs or societies nearby? Turns out a quick online search reveals sites listing neighbourhood and regional garden clubs and community gardens in your area, right across the country. It’s true that we might not expect to see promoted posts advertising their existence on our Instagram feed and unless a friend pulls us in, it can be easy to miss their presence, ultimately losing out on their benefits to our own gardening adventure.
Flower arranging workshop in the Canterbury Horticultural Society kiosk at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. - Photo supplied
Recently I spoke at a meeting of the Friends of the Gardens; a volunteer group created to foster the important link between the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the community, supporting the gardens team in maintaining this great public asset. Once again, mingling with fellow gardeners, I was not only reminded of the powerful positivity a shared passion has in fostering connection, but also the glaring fact that age was of no barrier. It is true that retirees have the opportunity to commit more time toward gathering or volunteering, hence why so many of these groups are attended by people senior to us. But to me, that’s the absolute advantage of it all! These multi-generational groups offer us newbies access to knowledge, support and enthusiasm that would simply be missing if we stuck to our peers only.
As a 40-year-old, I too juggle my work and home responsibilities, but have picked gardening as a passion I am willing to squeeze in. While I only slip into a CHS meeting every so often, I simply never leave unrewarded and inspired, amped on improving my attendance.
In my experience, the gardeners above me provide all the answers to the sticky, small questions I have about my own home plot. I can only encourage other new gardeners to dip their feet in and slide into a meeting too.
This article was first featured in my Stuff ‘Homed’ gardening column for beginners , The Press, Dominion Post and other regional papers on July 15th 2021
All words and images are my own, taken in my home and garden in Christchurch, New Zealand unless otherwise captioned.
