For more than 10 years, the San Carlos Community Garden has brought people from the community together; some who lease a plot to grow their own food, but many who simply want to volunteer and meet with like-minded neighbors in the community; while others come to the garden to enjoy its beautiful space and connect with nature, or take part in the variety of special events and educational activities that are offered each month.

Fittingly, the San Carlos Community Garden is excited about serving others and “growing community” in 2023.

Volunteering in the garden

People who are interested in learning more about the garden and volunteering can meet with a garden docent Saturdays 9 – 11 a.m., or attend SCCG’s monthly volunteer orientation held on the second Saturday of every month from 9 – 10 a.m.

Volunteer opportunities range from weeding and other garden maintenance, to lending a hand during special events, or sharing time and talents that can support the garden’s sustainability.

Gayle Mills and Geraldina Rocha, are like many others who first discovered the Garden as volunteers and have become “garden regulars” ever since.

Mills recounts how the garden has made a difference in her life.

“In the Spring of 2020, I was seeking opportunities for personal growth as well as increasing connections outside of my current circles of social interaction,” said Mills. “In my quest, I found an opportunity to volunteer at the San Carlos Community Garden. Right away, this felt like a natural fit as I was able to apply my love of gardening, but then I discovered that there was a need for other skills and experience that I could offer. It was exciting and I knew that I was quickly making a difference.”

After one year of volunteering and expressing aptitude to do more, Mills was invited to join the Garden’s Board of Directors in 2021.

“The volunteer work that I do in the garden and as a board member has provided me the opportunity to give back,” Mills remarked. “Volunteering with the garden has given me so much joy and some of the most meaningful activities of connecting with other people and my community than I have ever experienced.”

Rocha, a retired employee of the San Diego Unified School District, discovered SCCG after learning about the Garden’s Monarch Waystation designation in a previous Mission Times Courier article (San Carlos Community Garden Now a Monarch Waystation).

“Once I discovered the garden, I realized right away that the garden offers you the opportunity to be a part of something wonderful,” said Rocha. “As a volunteer, I get to enjoy the peaceful environment and develop relationships with the people involved. There is also great excitement and self-fulfillment when you grow your own vegetables, flowers and plants. To watch my vegetables grow from small seeds was a miracle for me. It was almost impossible to believe that after a few weeks you could receive what the earth gives you, and then eat and enjoy them with my family.”

2023 education programs

In partnership with the San Carlos Public Library, SCCG’s Alphabet Soup is a lively story telling event for young children held in the garden’s amphitheater on the second Saturday of each month from 10 – 10:30 a.m.

For more mature audiences, SCCG kicks off its monthly education workshops on Feb. 18 with local botanist, gardening instructor and author Chuck McClung who will lead “Create Your Edible Landscape”.

SCCG’s interactive workshops are led by experienced and entertaining subject matter experts such as McClung who will lead several workshops this year, including Grow Tomatoes All Year Long and Planning your Fall & Winter Garden. Other workshops include Basic Backyard Orchard Care, Upcycled Garden Art, Basics of Composting and more. All workshops are held in the garden on Saturdays from 9 – 10:30 a.m.; advanced registration is required.

The full schedule for SCCG’s 2023 Garden Education Workshops can be accessed at: sancarloscommunitygarden.com.

Editor’s note: This article was provided by Kelly Wood, co-chair for the San Carlos Community Garden.