Cultivating Connections: How Our Garden Supports Community and Conservation

As we prepare for the 2025 growing season at our two food pantry gardens, we’ve spent time reflecting on the past year—celebrating the lessons learned, the tasks completed, the challenges met (and some unmet), and, of course, the wonderful volunteers who helped make it all happen! More than just growing vegetables, the garden is becoming a powerful tool for building connections, creating partnerships, and demonstrating how conservation benefits everyone in our communities.

Spending time in the soil, planting, nurturing, and harvesting—these activities connect us deeply to the land. Through gardening, we learn not just about plants and crops, but about the land itself: its needs, rhythms, and unique nature. Every season offers new lessons—about soil health, water patterns, and how different environments support different types of growth. In this way, our garden is a living classroom, teaching us to listen to the land, adapt to its conditions, and work in harmony with nature. This deeper connection to the land enriches our community-building efforts, making conservation not just a priority but a shared experience.

In 2024, our garden efforts were made possible by the collective energy of volunteers, community partners, and generous supporters. While the food pantry gardens provided valuable fresh produce, it’s important to note that our work is about so much more. Through partnerships with organizations like Willing Hands, Claremont Soup Kitchen, and Charlestown Food Shelf, our gardens not only produced fresh, healthy food but also brought together a network of people dedicated to making a meaningful impact..

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers—including those from our Employer-Sponsored Service program— and with the support of Ella Barrett, our 2024 Patchen Miller Intern, we were able to achieve a lot in both of our food pantry gardens. From May through October, these dedicated people contributed an impressive 393 hours of work, planting, weeding, and harvesting. Their efforts yielded thousands of servings of fresh vegetables, helping to nourish individuals and families throughout the Upper Valley.

As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to demonstrating that land conservation has far-reaching benefits. Our garden will continue to serve as a platform for collaboration, bringing together volunteers, partners, and community members to support shared causes. Together, we are creating a stronger, more resilient community, where the benefits of conservation extend beyond the land and into every corner of our lives.

Thank you to all who have supported this journey. With your continued involvement, we look forward to achieving even more in the seasons to come. Together, we are cultivating a healthier, more connected community.