here are some of the pictures i look at when i want to feel hopeful. they are from blog reader jamie’s beautiful garden. not only is this in her front yard, but she has a policy of sharing with her neighbors! she even provides a pair of garden shears near the plants so passersby can help themselves to flowers or produce. i say way-to-grow, jamie! it’s people like you who give front-yard-gardeners a good name! 
this really puts me in the mood to get outside and garden, although i have to admit, it makes me a little envious, too 
if you have photos of your garden you’d like to share, feel free to email them to me- i’d love to post them here! for now, though, it’s jamie’s turn in the spotlight… so, without further rambling on my part, here is jamie’s garden:
Feb 28, 2013 @ 11:54:42
I wonder if she has had an of the problems I’ve had with “trying” to share.When I initially allowed access….I found that the people in the neighborhood who I truly think NEEDED these veggies the most…were tearing up the plants rather than “picking” off what they wanted.
New sign…..still didn’t work.
ANOTHER new sign…baskets of picked veggies hanging on the fence with a container filled with plastic bags so they could take what they wanted and NOT destroy the growing plant.They took ALL the baskets off the fence.
I fastened ALL the hanging baskets and put notes on EACH one saying..fill the PLASTIC bags with the veggies you want but PLEASE leave the hanging baskets so I can keep FILLING them.They dumped ALL the baskets and threw the plastic bags into the street.
I’m done now.I deliver my extras to neighbors I know like them and drop off the rest at the homeless center.
Feb 28, 2013 @ 12:02:58
Thank you, Julie, for sharing! Just want to clarify that what you see is two different seasons of gardening in the front yard ( notice the change from picket to privacy fence ). I sometimes bake blueberry scones ( michigan is famous for it’s luscious blueberries! ) and place them under glass on that little table by the arbor I built with my own two hands….and feet….and elbows, for anyone who passes by.
My son helped cut some of the pieces and set the posts but he vanished as soon as he saw how much work was left to be done. :/
Hopefully, this summer the ‘New Dawn’ roses will cover the arbor and the neighbors can enjoy the scents, sights and tastes of the garden equally. I really love to make my neighbors happy.
Win/ win for everyone! No losers on my block ….please!
Hey, maybe I just need to pipe some Vivaldi into the garden so we have all the bases covered? Yeah….that is a good idea. Happy people, happy plants and happy gardener.
Thank you, Julie Bass, for all that you do to inspire and motivate. You bring out the best in all of us!
Feb 28, 2013 @ 12:15:48
Hi, Bobbie. I am really sorry to hear of your experience. I live in a really small township so don’t have problems like that….yet. It sounds like you have some really rude teenagers who are bent on destroying what you have so generously and lovingly donated. I could see some of the teens in our town doing this but for now they leave the garden alone.
What I have experienced is the opposite. So many young people come by and gawk and point as they appreciate the variety of veggies and flowers. For some reason I have really, really tall sunflowers and corn and this makes people’s jaws drop. They usually comment to each other as they pass by and even when I offer them something from the garden they seem too proud to accept. The neighbors that I do know welcome any extra vegetables and flowers with no problem.
Maybe start gardening classes for your neighbors to get them involved or help them to start their own? That is what I am going to do this year. I am purchasing a lot of seeds and donating them to my neighbors. I will even till their plot if they want.
I think it so important to get young people involved in this process as they learn to appreciate life and all the hard work that goes into growing the very thing they need to stay alive.
I would love to see your garden pics if you have any!
Feb 28, 2013 @ 15:14:43
that is just so sad, bobbie- i’m sorry those people rained on your good deed like that… but i am a firm believer that you still get the reward for your end of the bargain even if things went snaffued on the other end… helps me to stay sane to keep that in mind… that said, i think there have been similar problems in a few community garden plots here in seattle where people have planted and toiled and then posted signs invited people to help themselves to what they needed but to leave some for others- and had whole plants taken, things destroyed, etc. very sad, but i am trying to remain in a positive state of mind… so, lucky neighbors and lucky homeless center!
Feb 28, 2013 @ 15:15:22
aw, thanks jamie… i sometimes wish i was what you guys thought i was…
Feb 28, 2013 @ 16:05:09
I wish it HAD been kids doing the destruction..oddly..it wasn’t.Our neighborhood has been hit hard with reos so the few of us who remain tried to get these “new” people involved with our community garden only a few blocks away.They weren’t interested..they had NO time…they had no transportation.I mentioned that I walked over every morning and evening..they could walk with me …not interested.Some people can’t BE helped..they’d rather be “served”.When I walked down to ask why they had torn all the baskets off the fence they said I was being a “bitch” and deserved it.No good deed goes unpunished…….but…….I’m used to it ……so it doesn’t devastate me..it just puzzles me.We have several families in this neighborhood who will cut your grass,shovel your sidewalk,watch your kids,give you a ride to the grocery…..whatever you need..they’re willing to help.Sad that people like these others can’t see what friendly neighbors really mean…their loss.
Feb 28, 2013 @ 17:48:56
Julie, don’t you know what you are? You don’t need to be a literal garden guru. People place way too much value on the physical so this makes it very difficult for us to just be who we were born to be. You are a seed. You planted a meta(mind)physical(material) seed that is taking root in so many different ways.
Because of your intention to plant food for your family you found yourself on the receiving end of abuse and threats of confinement by the ‘powers that be’.
I do not know of many people that would have handled this fiasco in such a dignified way without allowing the event to completely silence all the creativity that flows from your pen…er, keyboard. Oak Park lost in more ways than one.
The mind is the fertile garden of all future fruit. It matters not what you have actually planted in the soil around your home.
Feb 28, 2013 @ 17:53:21
Oh, yes, Bobbie….I have noticed a decline in social graces and skills in society and large. I think it is caused by the ‘Panem et Circenses’ that the average person consumes on a daily basis. It just does something to the mind, heart and soul.
You are absolutely right! Some people just want to be served rather than serve. Again, this is a society that is in serious decline…..but, I think it can turn around with our steady seed planting.
We will see, eh?
Feb 28, 2013 @ 18:48:01
@jamie…..from your lips to God’s ear..as my Dad used to say!
Mar 01, 2013 @ 14:33:03
these are very, very kind things to say. thank you.