The Factory Floor Newsletter - July

By Craig Farrington

“The only thing that is certain is if you do not plant it, it will not grow.” That garden wisdom was shared by Factory Two community garden instructor Susan Wilson at the group’s first gathering back in April in the basement of the makerspace when we were debating the viability of planting strawberries that late in the season. In that moment, we were talking about fruit, but we were really talking about the nature of all community initiatives: every new project is an act of faith, a bet that with enough effort and shared intention, something dormant will eventually spark to life. Standing in the garden today two months later, looking at the raised beds we have built and filled with vegetables and flowers, it’s clear that our gamble paid off.

Community gardens, like makerspaces, are places of experimentation. The predominant ethos is let’s keep trying until we get it right! Since that first meeting the gardeners have faced many challenges from pesky local critters eating seedlings, to the steep learning curve of trying to master organic agriculture on a deadline. When we were sidelined by health issues, stormy weather and the loss of momentum, we didn't treat it as a failure of the garden. We went back to the drawing board, supported each other through the recovery, and discovered that the most valuable tool in our shed wasn't  the trowel or the shovel, but the simple, consistent commitment of our members to show up for the next work day. "The one thing that I'm most grateful for is the community of y'all. Showing up every time” Susan shared at the start of our most recent meeting.

This commitment to showing up is exactly what has transformed this patch of earth into a shared asset for the community. While the garden serves as a vital support system for the individuals tending it, its impact radiates to the surrounding neighborhoods. As Factory Two board member and GM Cares volunteerDan Neu notes, the evolution of the back lot has been about more than just planting vegetables.

“This is another opportunity to leverage the green space and connect it to the community. For me, it’s also been about how Factory Two blends in to the area- in addition to the GM volunteer work there, we’ve made a concentrated effort to support the surrounding Carriage Town neighborhood. There’s nothing better than being able to break a large group of volunteers up over several projects at the same time. We can show our support for the people living, working and enjoying the area. There’s so much here- Kettering and Atwood stadium, Tenacity, Good Beans, GM’s Factory One and the Durant Dort building, Carriage Town, and the downtown. It’s really something special and I’m glad I’ve been a part of it.” Dan said.

Susan was right back in April: if you don’t plant it, it won’t grow. But as I look at the back lot today, I realize that the most important thing we planted wasn't a vegetable or a flower—it was a shared promise that we would keep showing up for each other. Whether it is the resilience of a gardener working one-handed after a surgery, the strategic planning of our board members, or the simple act of pulling a weed, we are proving that progress isn't an accident—it is a choice. We’ve learned that a garden is only as strong as the community tending it. So, come by the Factory Two back lot. See what we’ve grown, and consider what you might plant next.