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There is an endless list of reasons for forming a community garden. Having taken part in launching the Bangor Community Garden and helping to coordinate its activities and development over the past four years has convinced me that all reasons are good ones. There are those that simply don’t have the growing space at home, others that want to develop a green thumb, those that know pesticide free vegetables are healthier, and some that feel part of a movement towards a more sustainable way of living.

In four years, the number of 4 x 8 raised beds in the Bangor Community Garden has doubled from 60 to 120! There seems to be a greater awareness about what shouldn’t be in the food supply. People are also willing to get their hands dirty to discover the real deal.

While volunteer opportunities thrive and leadership roles continue to be developed, the Bangor Community Garden’s continued existence has been highly dependent on our founding partner organizations: National Able Network, City of Bangor, and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

As the Able representative, it has brought me great satisfaction to help maintain the vibrancy of the Bangor Community Garden project. The things that stand out in my mind after having completed my Master Gardener’s Certification five years ago are; it’s never too late to get started, you can’t make too many mistakes, and self-grown organic food is the best. Personally, I went from a backyard 10 x 20 garden five years ago to establishing a 60 x 200 food forest this year.

In a few years I’d like to imagine that Adam and Eve would be totally jealous. Times they are a changin’, and you can too!