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From the Executive Director

What’s in your garden?
I learned a lot about gardening from my father who patiently let me putter in the garden with him, trying my hand with a few things as a kid. My mother flowerssays gardening is in my genes, as her mother was quite the gardener too. I’ve also sought out advice from other gardeners who are willing to explain their successes and failures, even share some plants. So I’ve learned from people.

I’ve also learned from books, Web sites and even catalogs. I’ve read a lot about gardening, especially organic gardening and growing herbs, two of my particular passions. And part of what I do is pure intuition. Sure, I’ve made some mistakes over the years, but I’ve learned from them too. The time spent in the garden is often hard work and almost always requires working with dirt and fertilizer. But it’s nourishing and therapeutic time for me.

y father and maternal grandmother would be quite surprised with my garden, I do believe. It doesn’t look at all like the gardens they tended. Their gardens were quite utilitarian. My garden might rival theirs in production and does include some of their favorites (like onions, radishes and the soon-to-be planted okra), but it also includes some vegetables they never ate (like bok choy) and some whimsical touches of art that might leave them scratching their head. But it’s my garden.

tulip from Linda's gardenGrowing a community of women is a lot like gardening. Current leaders learn from past leaders. They also learn from other current leaders. Books, Web sites and catalogs provide information and inspiration. Sometimes the leaders move forward with little to propel them but pure intuition. Often the work is hard and dirty but time spent in community with women is always nourishing and therapeutic. Best of all, the community reflects the visions of the current women making up that community. It’s their garden.