Clare Gardens Corner

With the season coming to a close, I am able to take time to reflect on what has happened in the last year and celebrate it with gratitude. For the last ten years, we have been fortunate to grow food for our community, a community that has grown and changed over that time. We have started over twice during this period, each time taking raw land and improving it, transforming it from the lawns and pastures used by friars and Girl Scouts into the biologically active vibrant growing spaces we’ve used to produce more than 168,000 pounds of food over ten years. We have put time and resources into the land, not to mention the sweat equity it takes to run a successful farm. From the capital improvement projects like two new wells which are the cornerstone of our irrigation system, a greenhouse which gives us the autonomy to start our own seedlings not only for our production but allows our community members to grow their own gardens through our Seedling Sale, to the high tunnel we built six years ago to extend the season harvest year-round – there are numerous ways which we have been able to record improvement and successes at Clare Gardens.

The foundation of this project has always been the strong and dedicated individuals that make up our crew. These farmers have built up the systems and the reputation of excellence we carry with us. We work with a committed network of cooks and chefs that have been willing and excited to use fresh and local produce in their kitchens, incorporating the flexibility necessary when using sometimes misshapen or unconventional ingredients in their dishes. And, of course, we have provided countless residents healthy meals, telling our story along with it.

So, with the end of this season, a beginning too. Gratitude for where we have come, and hopeful expectations for what is to come. The new farm is full of so many possibilities, and by building on the work and successes of the last ten seasons it will be invigorating to watch the progress. To build something new, it’s valuable to learn from the past, therefore by remembering where we’ve come, we can champion the road that lies ahead for Clare Gardens.