I had lived on Bainbridge Island, WA for about 3 months when I started looking around for a community garden spot. I love growing things and living in a condo severely limited my ability to garden. One can only fit so many pots on a balcony before it is either full or you or the people you live with start to complain. Though I had grown up in central CA, I learned most of what I know about gardening in the Midwest. Hot and humid Summers were the norm and watering was a must most years. I would have to relearn gardening here in the PNW. The climate was practically the exact opposite from where I had moved from. The pests I was used to dealing with were, for the most part, not an issue here.

After digging up some contact info for local community garden spots on the island, I sent out half a dozen or so emails in mid March of 2014. I had several responses offering to put me on a waiting list. Just when it started to look like any gardening I would be doing was on the condo’s tiny balcony, Anita of Rock Farm emailed me back to say that a spot or two was available at Rock Farm. Things were looking up.

I drove over to survey the garden plots and learn a little bit about Rock Farm, Anita and Phil Rockefeller’s gift to the community. An unbelievable amount of time, sweat and money have gone into providing a garden space for islanders that need one and providing food to the local food banks. When the economy tanked a few years back they wanted to do something to help local families and decided to devote some of their land to a community garden. They have built a beautiful garden with 12′ high deer fencing, wooden sides to contain the soil, running water, tables, a shaded spot to sit and enjoy the scenery and an herb garden for all. Each garden spot that is rented comes with an additional row that gardeners tend for the food bank. Anita orchestrates the planting and harvesting of the food bank rows so that the produce is staggered and arrives in a timely manner.

Fast forward a couple weeks after that first meeting and I was planting kale (Toscano and Red Russian), broccoli, Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, peas, beets and radishes in my 10’x20′ garden spot.