COVID-19 has been tough on many local nonprofits and businesses, but a few have managed their way through the pandemic. The Summit Community Gardens has seen an increase in visits this year and is planning on bringing even more programs to the community.
Sloane Johnson is the Executive Director of summit Community Gardens and says despite the challenges faced by organizations around the country this year, they’ve actually managed to stay busy.
“I think people are really using gardening, you know, as a therapy through the stress that’s happening with COVID-19 and an opportunity to get outside, dig in the dirt, and be safe,” Johnson said. “It’s a safe activity to do right now.”
Johnson told KPCW the community gardens have 132 plots that are rented out to people who either want to garden and don’t have the space for it or are just looking for a community space to get their gardening done. She said visitors this year have run the gamut as far as ages and genders.
“We have been getting a lot of families coming in the garden,” said Johnson. “We’ve definitely had more participation in our kids camps and we started our after-school program in the garden so we are getting a lot of families and use, but we’re getting a little bit of everything.”
Many outdoor-oriented activities and businesses have been able to thrive mid-pandemic as more and more people look to spend time outside as other options like theaters and concerts continue to not be options.
With winter fast approaching, the community gardens will be putting on a number of events this Saturday as part of their annual Clean up and Learn Day. The events help aspiring gardeners prepare their nurseries for freezing temperatures and educate them on fall gardening activities like garlic and daffodil planting. Johnson said healthy soil over the winter will make for an even better looking garden once the snow melts in the spring.
The gardens are also looking for volunteers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month to help clean up and winterize the gardens before the snow arrives.
Later in the month, the gardens will also be hosting a Halloween in the Garden event from 4:00-6:30pm on Halloween day, October 31st. With event after event cancelled this year due to COVID-19, Johnson said the gardens are an ideal place for a socially-distanced activity.
“Everything will be one-way so kids can go through safely and they’re not running into each other or gathering in any place,” she said. “We’ll have crafts and activities and it will be decorated and we’ll have candy. It will be a lot of fun.”
Sign ups for Halloween in the Garden will begin next week.
For a full list of events and volunteer opportunities at Summit Community Gardens, visit their website, summitcommunitygardens.org.
