everything greens: new normal

Everything Greens

the new normal

By Janet Douberly

As the years go by, quicker each time, sometimes we forget to take a moment to stop and look back at what has happened in our lives. Since having such a huge change in our world over the past few years, it is more interesting than ever to see how this year brought us back to a type of normal. Maybe not the normal that was before, but a new, more appreciated normal.

This year we were so pleased to finally be able to bring the kids back into the garden! Our Youth Farm Program, and Garden Sprouts program had been on hiatus for two years so it was thrilling to once again watch the kids learn about where food comes from, how to grow food, and more importantly, how to enjoy the food they grew. With the addition of our new education team came an awesome two weeks of summer camp with all new activities and lessons! We were also happy to continue our Storytime in the Garden which we began with Every Page Counts while the world was still locked down.

Watching the systems put in place during 2020 and 2021 grow and change as people emerged from their homes was gratifying and very special. Our Take What You Need Garden was expanded to meet demands. Our weekly Free Farm Stand morphed into the spring opening of the first Free Fridge and Pantry in Fredericksburg, giving access to fresh and nutritious foods to all, any time of the day, every day of the year.

Oh the growth! We kicked 2022 off right by officially purchasing an amazing 56 acres of land right here in Fredericksburg! We were astounded by the outpouring of support when we started the fundraiser for the down payment and continued to be humbled by those who are donating now to help pay off the balance of the loan so that we don't waste any money paying unneeded interest. While the community continues to come through with funds, we are working diligently. The first steps we are taking is to make sure this land is put in a trust, protecting it from being developed so that all generations to come will have this beautiful piece of land to enjoy and learn from.

Out with the old, in with the new! Under the watchful eye of our Garden Coordinator, hundreds of invasive plants were removed from our land with the help of volunteers and our Invasive Plant Intern. With the removal of invasive plants came the installation of many Virginia Native plants that will be a boon to our ecosystem! The insects and other wildlife were surely happy to witness the installation of a native plant meadow in the upper garden on our Daffodil Hill. (Don't worry, the daffodils will still be popping up this spring!)

All of this and much more happened in just one short year. It brings us such a sense of pride in our community for supporting all of these projects. Whether it was coming by to volunteer or whipping out the check books to help us grow in our continued mission, you folks, our friends and neighbors and loved ones, all deserve one righteous pat on the back.

Here's to the past and future of DTG.