Article by Ron Heinrich
It was just over ten years ago when I initially approached members of what was then Arbor Covenant Church asking about a possible plot in the community garden that I could see out past the parking lot as the snow slowly receded that spring. I was told that Jim Stehley, the architect and coordinator of the garden he established in 1991, had recently passed away and that plans for 2017 were a little up in the air as a result.
Never one to pass up an opportunity to get in over my head, I offered to take over the role of garden coordinator. Ten years, and a lot of tomatoes, have gone by in the blink of an eye, and in its place I find a community continuing to grow and morph into what is now called Arbor Good Neighbor House.
Community is a term that seems to get used a lot these days. One might refer to it as a buzzword of sorts, but it’s unclear to me whether we are all talking about the same thing when we use it. My handy-dandy Webster defines it as “a group of people with common interests”, but when I think of community the word encompasses significantly more, and one of the things it should include is the providing of mutual support and encouragement among those “people with a common interest”.
Inherent in that support is the taking on of some responsibility for helping maintain personal connections. In the garden, this manifests in many ways such as the sharing of plants, of knowledge, and the lending of a helping hand when that new trellis in a neighboring plot doesn’t want to stand up on its own. But it’s also in the unseen and unspoken efforts that include taking care of ones’ own plot so that weeds aren’t spilling over and making more work for a neighbor or adding water to that neighbors’ plot when it’s looking like it could use a little attention.
Likewise, at Arbor Good Neighbor House I see people everyday stepping up and taking on responsibility in an effort to create an intentional and supportive community. At a recent Open House, the myriad ways in which this is manifested was on display: from providing space for other community-based organizations like Open Doors for Refugees, Patchwork, and Joining Forces for Families, to quarterly Repair Cafes, to the weekly efforts of the Personal Essentials Pantry. Everywhere you look you find community flourishing much like the tomatoes, peppers, beans, and flowers of the community garden.
We are grateful to all who attended the Open House to learn more about the community-based efforts that occur in this space and welcome additional engagement with our community if that is something that speaks to you. Regardless, know that Arbor Good Neighbor House is doing the important work of community building in south-central Madison and that you are welcome anytime. And should you drop by in late July through August we’ll have a few tomatoes for you to take home.
Ron Heinrich
At Arbor Good Neighbor House, Inc, we know that change starts with people like you. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate future for all.
Here’s how you can take part:
- Donate: Every dollar counts. Your gift helps us reach our goals and fund our mission. Donate any amount to the Arbor Good Neighbor House.
- Share: Spread the word with your friends, family, and community. Your voice can amplify our impact.
- Volunteer: Your time and skills can help us make an even greater difference.