I recently attended an event for the Heartlands Conservancy. All of the speakers were wonderful, but Lori - Steward of the Heart Garden, had such a heartfelt message, it inspired me to volunteer at this garden that is grown from love. I will include her message below and encourage you to read it, as I think many geocachers will find a kindred spirit. I am placing this cache with permission in hopes that people will see what the power of community and nature working together can grow into. If you are there on Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoon/early evening (Times differ depending on seaons), you'll probably see volunteers working here. Please say hello and ask them about the garden. They will be happy to share information and maybe even some of the garden's bounty!
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Lori's Message
"We are a Community Demonstration Garden and Orchard. Community Gardens come in many flavors, there are allotment gardens, community orchards, children's gardens, therapy gardens, its for your group to define. For us, we began by defining community as every living thing being fed and supported by our work there.
None of us are paid. None of us are experts. We are friends and neighbors, learning as we go. yes, we grow food for the community, all of it. We grow food for bugs and bees, butterflies and birds, worms, slugs, bunnies, nice neighbors and old grouchy guys. Its not enough to live on, but its enough to merit a stroll and a bit of grazing, it is there to draw you in and hopefully provide inspiration. Belleville Heart Garden is a demonstration garden.
We try to demonstrate ideas for you to take with you, maybe that goes to your house, or your school, or your restaurant, or a vacant lot in your neighborhood. You may find your inspiration in the native flower beds, in the herb garden, the food beds, the berry bramble, the native berrying bushes in bird world, the orchard, or the rain garden. Inspiration is food too, we are nourished when we slow down, take in the magic happening all around us, and aspire to make magic of our own.
Nature holds so many lessons for us all, here are a few I have learned:
Nature specializes, we don’t have to be good at everything, there is a place for each of us. There is a special bee for every job. Blueberry Bee, Rose Mallow bee, Squash Bee… When we lean into our thing we are best at, we leave room for others to shine.
Nature thrives in diversity, monoculture throws everything out of whack. Every choice we make, whether it's art, or crops, perennials, or bushes, it is with an eye to invite more lives into the garden. We are here to grow.
Nature adapts. There is no obstacle that nature in its patience cannot resolve. Plants will bend and reach to get a bit more sun. Water will show you where it prefers to go. We observe and adjust, there are no mistakes, only information for later.
Nature rests, and even during that perceived inactivity, during winter when the flowers are gone and the leaves have fallen, roots are growing. Last year we stewards shut down the twice weekly volunteer times during the winter time change, and that is something we will stick to. Rest restores us.
Before the garden existed, When I dreamed up the Heartswing, I was in a difficult place. I had left a long marriage, my kids were getting big, I was alone and lonely. Isolated. They say grief is love with no place to go. So I made a place. And I put my big, sentimental, ridiculous Heart right in the middle of it, and invited the world to come play.
Spaces like the garden, and the many other beautiful, magical, special places that Heartlands champions every day matter. They feed and inspire us, restore our spirits, connect us to the earth, each other and ourselves, so we can keep making the world a better, kinder place."