2010 was a year of change at the Naperville Park District’s Community Garden Plots on West Street. With the construction of athletic fields on the south end of the property by School District 203, the plots needed to be reconfigured. Although the total number of available garden plots decreased from 590 to 515, each gardener who requested a plot received at least 1 plot this year.

“We did Ok,” said gardener Tom Sullivan. “Everyone got a plot.”  The growing season brought the challenge of too much rain at planting time followed by dry conditions toward the end of the summer, but some gardeners were able to plant tomatoes as late as mid-June, and still reaped a good harvest.

Compared to home gardens, the West Street plots offer the advantages of lots of sunshine, the absence of rabbits, and most importantly, the friendly help of other gardeners, who create the community atmosphere at the plots.

Dr. Jim Adams, who just started gardening in 2009, commented on how much he has learned from his fellow gardeners. “My gardening neighbor, Dick Hutter, is like my adopted father. He taught me everything about gardening. Now I have such a passion for gardening. If I could have earned a living as a farmer or master gardener, I would have done it.”

Gardener Dick Hutter shows off his sunflowers                                                                   

Dr. Jim Adams' flowers still blooming in September

Dr. Adams is known among the gardeners for his dedication to gardening, his generosity in sharing his vegetables, and his helpfulness to those around him. In Dick Hutter’s words, “Doc never does anything halfway.” Dr. Adams has been a trauma surgeon for many years, and decided to take time off to pursue things he never had time for. Shortly after beginning his leave, he responded to an emergency call from the Navy following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, spending the first 2 months of 2010 there. His service in an emergency hospital was a life-changing experience. “I thought I had seen it all,” he said, referring to the trauma surgery typical of his practice, “but I did not have a clue (about the human suffering there).”

Dr. Adams reflected on the contrast between the conditions in Haiti, life back in the United States, and about the insights gained by stepping back from his medical career to experience more of life.  He and Dick Hutter agreed that gardening brings healing and wholeness  through being outdoors, working with the dirt, getting physical exercise, helping others, going through the unforeseen challenges with fellow gardeners, and seeing the fruit of your labor.

Finding time to garden is an issue for many people. Sharing a plot can work well, and registering for a half-size plot can make the project more manageable. For those who make the commitment to tend a plot through the season, the potential harvest includes tasty, nutritious vegetables, colorful flowers, new friendships, a growing passion for the outdoors, and all kinds of life-enriching experiences.

    
  Dick Hutter harvesting sweet potatoes                                                           

 
Zucchini from Tom Sullivan's garden