http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/1233408557/ID=1832833048

I used to bike past this spot all the time when it was just a lonely, empty patch of grass. Instead of biking on busy Main st., I would turn up Dundurn and onto Hill St. For the last few summers I have been farming and sometimes I would bike home from the farm, pass the empty patch of grass and think, “if only that weren’t a lonely, empty patch of grass”.

Alas, this summer my three great friends, and ‘colleagues’ of Sprout Camp told me about the HILL STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN. They were getting themselves a 200 ft plot, raising their beds and seeding in the empty patch of grass that wasn’t so empty anymore.

(Alas, my karmic thoughts are being heard).

And on Wednesday, we took the Sprout campers to the garden and our jaws dropped!

It was hard for the kids to contain themselves as we hopped over the wooden fence. We found ourselves in the bounty of gardens in the flourishing of summer. This transformed landscape did not seem like Hamilton. We were in an edible jungle and the wooden beds, tall corn stalks, flowers and trellising made an ideal spot for hide and go seek.

But we kept close…

David, toured us through the garden, reminding the kids that we couldn’t just pick and touch whatever they wanted; 30 different people and families had worked hard to create all that magic.

David took us to his plot and we harvested some celebratory crops.

First was the cucumber and the spicy nasturtium flower. Then Rainbow Chard. And cauliflower.

“This is the first cauliflower I have ever grown”, David told us.

And it was the first one he had ever harvested.

It looked perfect and we all applauded when David cut it from the ground.  We all seemed proud; we sat in a circle and to try some.

“Shouldn’t we wash it?”, one of our campers asked.

“No, I think we are OK”, I said as David cut up some pieces.

“We don’t have to wash this like a lot of the food we get from the grocery store”, David said. “Of course it got rained on, but this is an organic garden and the people here don’t spray any poisonous chemicals onto their plants to get them to grow”.

David gave us all a piece of his cauliflower and we ate it raw. We all were so impressed; it was delicious and we asked for more.

David, Sprout Master’s, first Cauliflower!

And then later David was making sandwiches: Everything Wrapped in Rainbow Chard Sandwiches.

Chard and Cucumber Sandwiches. Chard and Beet Sandwiches.

I went to the van to get some water and I came back to a surprise. I knew it might be trouble when all the kids were giggling. My niece handed me and sandwich…

“Oh thank you, Hannah”.

“David made it”, she said with an eager smile.

I  looked at David, then at my sandwich and took a bite.

Beet, cucumber, I tasted that right away. And then spicy nasturtium flower. And then it got spicier, and hotter and HOTTER! Soon my mouth was half drool and half greens. Hot Pepper? Where did that come from? DAVID!

Drool (and deliciousness)! Ouch (and yummy)!

Our time at Hill St was really fun. To be honest, I am surprised and grateful that something so beautiful exists in Hamilton; it provides an incredible lesson for young and old of what can be in other neighborhoods.

Most of the plot shares are rented to people living in the neighborhood who don’t have ideal growing situations in the places they rent. The garden was established for many reasons, like to establish food access and security, to improve our environment, for education. Gardening is a great way for people to spend time together, learn from each other and share. We definitely were educated and empowered after leaving the garden. Everyone has done a great job with their plots and it wouldn’t be possible without the donations of Hill Street’s many partners.

You should definitely take a stroll past the garden.  If you have little ones it’s great to play at the park, walk your dog or fly a kite across the street.

It is flourishing and it is ridiculously beautiful.

Thank you Hill Street Community Garden and thank you Sprout Master David!

On our country drive home we listed off all the plants that we saw. It was hard to remember it all;

-kale-sweet sweet strawberries-swiss chard-potatoes-asparagus-sunflower-garlic-tarragon-poppies-gladiolas-beets-brussel sprouts-sage- raspberries- zinna flowers-the three sisters-the fruit orchard-black walnut trees-shiitake mushrooms- …

We saw week old baby ducklings, nursing kittens, pigs, cows, a peacock, turkeys…

We walked into the forest of sugar maples and harvested shiitake mushrooms. We picked plums, and stepped into bills straw bail greenroom with growing bananas and papaya!

Today our brave campers tried pink mashed potato! Can you imagine that?  (Add a wee bit of beet juice, they were SO delicious). We were also spoiled with some short bread cookies with a hint of mint and lavender. Everything we ate a lunch came from the farm and the campers were surprised when Ann said she didn’t shop at the grocery store.

We can’ t thank Simpler Thyme enough! They really want to see young people learn and grow and there is SO much to learn in their big garden!

(Even the Sprout Leaders got schooled today. Do you know why some potatoes have green spots? -Don’t eat those parts-)

Can’t wait for tomorrow!