My name is Paulina, and I feel so grateful to have been a part of this gardening program this year. I have four kids, a four month old baby, a 3 year old girl and two boys, 5 and 8 years old. Part of my intention in joining this program was to learn enough about gardening so that we could start a successful garden this year and so the kids could feel more connected with the source of their food. I had no idea, but we got to learn so much more and became part of a supportive community that will be there long after we graduate.
Our favorite things to grow are zucchinis, carrots, beets and leafy greens. Through the program we got to try things we probably wouldn’t have dared to plant on our own like parsnips, potatoes, different varieties of beans and tomatoes and we even learned how to do companion planting with herbs that were not only great for cooking but also deterred pests and were favorable to our crops.
I was personally surprised to see how much food we can grow in our relatively small garden. My husband built us some raised beds last year and we put them to good use this spring. Because of the program, I became aware of the correct plant spacing and I feel like things got to really thrive, some things, like our tomatoes, thrived a little too much hehe.
Our biggest challenge this year were some pests. I kept checking our cabbage and broccoli for slugs because they were being eaten faster than they could grow and could never find any. When Rosie came to visit our garden, she pointed out it was actually the white moths that were eating them and we were mistaking them for benevolent pollinators. Definitely a learning experience that will help us better care for our garden next year.
My family is so grateful that this program exists and that the people who organize it and run it are so invested in helping our community through education and active support. It is invaluable knowledge that helps people for generations to come.
~ Paulina Dominguez
