#9: Meet Melinda, Garden Leader at Golden Community Garden
“I think in so many ways the Master Community Gardener program was just what I needed. It really pushed me and challenged me because of the give-back hours; both building gardens and teaching courses totally put me outside of my box because I haven’t ever considered myself a teacher.
When you teach someone else, then you take that knowledge in a different way than you would if you had memorized it or heard it from someone else. It was both fun and scary. To have that little push was really important to feel proud of myself. You think, ‘I shouldn’t have put those limits on myself.’
I run the donation plots at the Golden Community Garden, which is probably one of the larger donation zones in Denver. We have 15 beds for donation only. I think last year we donated like 700 pounds of food. We’re all just in it together to bring some healthy food to people who may not otherwise get it.
That’s one of the biggest reasons why I love gardening. The community and relationship building–and sharing all this wonderful knowledge with others. My daughter comes to the garden with me almost every day and she and I will just snack on snap peas and green beans while we’re harvesting. This is a place of peace for her too. She likes being here just as much as I do. We have the greatest chats and she’ll give me one of her air pods and we’ll listen to music together.
It just feels good. It feels right, and to be able to serve in this way is just an honor for me. I love it.”
