The Story Garden has been around for just over a decade now. She has been a space where people have gathered for bonfires, poetry readings, meditations, harvest dinners, dancing, pumpkin give-a-ways and more. The garden provides vegetables, herbs, fruit, medicine and flowers. It has taken these last 10 years for organizers and neighbors to discover the joy and gifts the garden provides…to learn her rhythms and quirks.
As the economy becomes more unsure and everything seems to be costing more, I have asked myself, what role does the garden play in all of this? Here we have a little piece of land that is for all of us; humans, critters, birds, pollinators, neighborhood cats and the occasional turkey. What does harmony look like between humans and the plant world? In what ways can we be in relationship with the land that allows us to lean on her in crisis?
When I think through what I need and what community needs, when the future looks unsteady, the answer is almost always, each other. The ability to build networks between one another, knowing skills and where resources are, enables us to help take care of one another when money runs out or natural disaster takes down our systems.
One way the garden is striving to be a steady and trustworthy space in community is hosting our monthly Mutual Aid events. These events are an opportunity for neighbors to share what they have in abundance with neighbors who need a little support. It is the ability to create connections to one another and pathways for support. It is the ability to trust that between all of us, we already have everything we need.
Each month we are going to focus on a different item in our lives/household. This is a low stress item exchange held at the Story Garden for a couple of hours. Please bring what you have that you are not using anymore, and/or come if you are looking and in need of an item. If you have items but are unable to join for the event, contact me and I can receive your items early!
The next Mutual Aid swap is on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m.-noon for household goods.
When a crisis comes, all we will have is our connections to one another. Now is the time to start building these systems of our own, and strengthen our connections to one another.
Outside of the Mutual Aid events hosted once a month, the garden is full of free food and books! I want to encourage you to come and get familiar with the space, see what is grown and what you need. The honey bees are an added bonus to pollinate all the plants and bring delicious honey in the fall that we sell to neighbors.
We will also be looking at hosting more classes in the garden in the next few years to build up our skills and knowledge. The garden is public land, and it is the goal of those who care for her to ensure that she remains a free and accessible place for all people. A place where we can organize and find refuge, harvest food for our families, and gather medicine for what harms us.
Contact Danielle at danielle.tietjen@gmail.com or 612-227-0410 with questions or curiosities.