When it comes to growing fresh produce, the Trinity Patch Community Garden does just that for free, offering the community and campus the opportunity to organically produce their own vegetables.
While the garden has existed through the university for several years with the help of sponsors and a grant through the UT Women’s Philanthropic Association, it is only in its third year at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
“The year before [the garden’s move], the university had several other plots going, and they needed to move [the garden] from a location that the university was landscaping so they put out a notice, asking if anyone knew of any property. … As a member of both the recycling group and Trinity Presbyterian Church, I discovered that we had the property and I proposed it to the church and they agreed to do it,” said Community Garden Supervisor Robin Last.
Being a gardener who grows for 11 months out of the year, Last enjoys sharing her joy of the art with others.
“[Gardening] is really exciting because you know you dig and dig in the dirt and pull weeds and that’s no fun, but then next thing you know, you’ve got stuff coming up. … [This garden] can offer people an opportunity to experience the real magic in gardening and making things grow and seeing healthy produce come out of it. I mean, to me, it’s a very rewarding experience,” Last said.
With the church’s mission to provide community outreach and Last’s desire to garden and teach others about gardening, the location has worked out positively.
“A lot of members who are currently involved are just friends of friends of friends; it’s more word of mouth than anything else. It’s typically people who are new to gardening and want to learn,” Last said.
Along with giving people the opportunity to learn about gardening, the Community Garden gives resources that home gardening might not.
“Our soil is really great, because we’re using composting and other practices, which really enhance the soil, and people are just amazed at how wonderful the produce is and how the plants are really thriving. So, you get to see how to do things in better ways that increase crop production, as well as satisfaction, because people are more satisfied when they see success,” Last said.
“[Also], we all look out for each other’s plants. If we see somebody’s area that needs work, some people come out. … That’s one of the real benefits of doing it in a group, is that it doesn’t all fall on one single person.”
For Last, the satisfaction comes in producing clean vegetables.
“I’m not a vegetarian, but I like to eat mostly green when I can, locally. Part of my thinking is that I don’t want to buy foods grown in Mexico and sprayed with chemicals. And I have taken the master gardener program, but they don’t really focus on organic gardening. They don’t really teach you the hands-on things, so the best way to learn is just to get in there and try different things,” Last said.
“That’s been one of the real pleasures to me [about running the garden], just having people learn about the basics of organic gardening. It’s been an organic garden since the beginning and that’s pretty much how we want to remain in the future. We want to be as pesticide and chemical free as possible.”
While the garden has continued running because of Last’s dedication to managing upkeep daily, it has also thrived because of local and university support.
“We had helpers through [UTM’s] Institute of Civic Engagement, and they were very much involved while they were in operation. Like, if we needed something done, we could just put out a notice and all sorts of people would show up. Also, [UTM Behavioral Sciences Professor] Dr. James Maples has actually sent students as part of a service learning component to his class. … [In addition], Dennis Kosta has been really supportive. If I need any materials, the recycling people will really help me,” Last said.
“[Also] we have some volunteers come out who are mystery gardeners; they just feel compelled to come out and weed, and they take care of things when they see what needs to be done. And that’s pretty neat.”
As for the garden’s future, while garden expansion has been discussed, Last hopes to see more social and educational opportunities, along with possible fundraisers.
“I would love to get together in the future to have potlucks with garden vegetables and have discussion groups about how you do various things and talk about gardening experiences,” Last said.
“And possibly we’re going to be planting pumpkins. If we can raise money from selling pumpkins, we could use the funds to invest back into the garden or put towards other community needs.”
For more information on the Trinity Patch Community Garden, email Last at rclast@yahoo.com or visit the UT Martin Growing Gardens Facebook.
