Over the last few years, there has been a lot of dreaming and planning in Hurt Park Community Garden.

In 2021, a new fence enclosed the growing spaces, helping to keep out pesky groundhogs, raccoons, and the occasional deer. In 2022, a group of neighbors gathered to imagine how the garden might better serve the Hurt Park community. They prioritized adding more growing plots, creating some high-walled beds for those who had trouble bending down, building a welcoming sign that could also serve as a place for gardeners to share their bounty, and planting  beds of native perennials that could be enjoyed by all and would invite pollinators to the garden. In 2023, many of those plans came to fruition.

Then, last month, volunteers from Junior League of Roanoke Valley arrived to weed, clear, and dig the shared native plants bed. Neighbors were invited to see the progress that had been made. The April 27 volunteer day was a full-circle moment, as JLRV had provided the grant that allowed for the planning sessions with Hurt Park neighbors and the improvements to the garden. For Junior League volunteers to create a corner of beauty with their own hands felt like a fitting close to a stretch of big progress in this garden.

What's next for Hurt Park Community Garden? For one, a busy season of growing. All 25 garden beds have been assigned and the tiny seeds and starts pushed into the dirt two months ago are doubling and tripling in size. The next project on the schedule will be the creation of a children's gardening space. A shade garden will follow that.

Regular volunteer days are scheduled each month in each of LEAP's Community Gardens. Check in with LEAP's Facebook or Instagram accounts to see schedules each month for the volunteer days. No registration is required. Simply come ready to work and bring a water bottle. All supplies will be provided. Questions? Email: gardens@leapforlocalfood.org.