March 10, 2020 - Volunteers met at MFS Niederheid and a community garden seed that had taken root over many weeks, fragile and shaky, but persistent in a nagging sort of way, burst into the air with a gusto determined to see the light of day. Animated discussions, ideas and brilliant visions transcended minds, wafting overhead like a comforting blanket, warming hearts. The meeting ended with bonhomie.
Then, on March 13th an announcement of an indefinite lockdown usurped this amity with bewildering cold as Europe and our community grappled with a new and terrifying pandemic. Eight weeks of uncertainty, teetering on the edge of caution and recklessness, and finally realizing that life must be savoured in a real, back-to-basics kind of way, hope began to kindle.
Joyfully the Community Garden concept bounced back front and centre and this time would not be quelled. Emboldened with CFSU(E) support and a passion to create and nurture, the garden was reborn! WhatsApp, WebEx (Zoom not yet evolved), and emails later, this group found each other. The pandemic had ruled out contact, expanding the volunteer base was a no-go. The garden must take shape, and willing hands sourced.
Unsuspecting families were enlisted; husbands, wives, children listened indifferently at first. Inevitably, as happens with a movement gaining memento, chatter around the family dinner table was suddenly animated; gloom moved to hope and in a snap of one’s fingers a tiny spark was a roaring fire, fully aflame with the spirit of creation: Wanda, a natural leader, took charge with nothing more than a fierce determination to make it work, and a troop of garden enthusiasts staunch in support; some with prior knowledge, some eager to learn a new skill, some for the hard labour and some to simply to encourage.
It must evoke and reflect growth, nurturing, tenderness, love, care, hope and faith - and it must satisfy the human need for purpose. Two unsaid goals resting comfortably like well-worn gloves and felt exactly right for the volunteers and felt exactly right for the Military Family Services mandate. Setting sail to the wind, a journey had begun. The good earth through fingers, face to the sun, spades, rocks, fork-lifting, measuring, grimy hands, grimier feet and messy hair notwithstanding, laughter, tears, and the sweet ache of limbs dissolved in many hours of cleaning, shaping and building; metamorphic artists at a potters wheel, it came together - there it was, born of the dust, planted in sweat, cherished in tenderness and harvested in gratitude, a conversation point at many a table, the proverbial ‘ugly-duckling-turned-to-swan-story’.
Heartfelt thanks to Wanda and Tom, Violet and Jeff, Robin and Heather, Don and Jen, Mary Darren Gaby and Ben , Ann Marie and Bill, and Lucie. A special acknowledgement to Dylan for his incredible and unwavering commitment through wind, rain and storm, and to Gaby and Ben for their evenings spent in tending the garden. We are SO proud of you. May your tribe increase.
- Nalini Shekhar,
Niederheid, Germany