How the Garden is Impacting the Community
Jerome Poole has dedicated significant time and effort to supporting the garden by helping maintain its aesthetics and productivity. He is retired from the US Army and experienced injuries in the military that have plagued him in his older years. Jerome has stated on several occasions the benefits he has personally received back from his volunteering. The exercise, serenity, fellowship, and personal satisfaction of contributing toward the greater good have helped Jerome enhance his retirement life. We appreciate his service to our country and dedication to making TNGP successful.
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Ruth Nesteroff, a mental health advocate, joined TNGP as a volunteer to connect with the earth, learn more about gardening, and for the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Her volunteer journey has been a rewarding and fulfilling adventure, from building community plots to planting, harvesting, and donating to the local senior center. Ruth stated, “The garden has truly been a sanctuary, bringing not only peace but also a profound sense of connection and accomplishment to my life. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to something that gives back to the community.”
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Mark Junker is a nine-year-old home school student volunteering once a month in the donation plots. He has taken a particular interest in making and selling nut butters. Mark helped us plant peanuts this year, and he harvested and took home roughly 800 peanuts for his business. Mark has studied the processing of peanuts and the necessary steps to make peanut butter and other nut butters. It’s a multi-step process of harvesting, brining, drying, roasting, de-shelling, and grinding the nuts into peanut butter. Mark has made jars of the end product and has sold them to friends and family and at the Katy Market Days. TNGP was delighted to be able to contribute to the peanut-growing educational experience of Mark’s endeavors.
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Amy Campbell and her friend, Rhonda Johnstone, both retired teachers and neighbors, joined TNGP last year. They enjoy helping each other with their garden beds, meeting other gardeners, and exchanging gardening tips and ideas. Having a garden bed in the community has enabled them to grow some of their own nourishing produce and foster a spirit of generosity by sharing their bountiful harvest with their neighbors. Amy says it is a delight to observe the progress of the plants each week while also enjoying the birds and flowers in the peace of the beautiful outdoors. Rhonda says that tending a garden helps her appreciate life's wondrous cycle by witnessing tiny seeds' miraculous transformation into flourishing, mature plants. Rhonda and Amy say they feel more connected to their community by participating in TNGP.
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Cam’s journey with gardening began in her childhood, tending to a beautiful gardenia alongside her grandma in Vietnam. Those early moments ignited a lifelong passion for nurturing plants.
When her family immigrated to Houston, Texas, everything changed as she learned to adapt to a new life. However, her love for flowers remained constant. Once she began living independently, she picked up gardening again, and it became her escape. Her first apartment balcony overflowed with flowers and herbs, transforming the space into a little oasis.
Fast forward to today, and her family home is filled with vibrant roses and perennials, creating a haven for bees and butterflies. Over the past three years, she has expanded her gardening efforts by growing vegetables at the neighborhood garden project. This experience has been rewarding—not just for the fresh produce but also for the friendships she has formed with other gardeners and volunteers. There’s something truly special about connecting with people who share your passion!
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During her youth, Tonya spent many summers with her grandmother, who was passionate about gardening. Her grandmother's love for plants and nature greatly influenced Tonya, fostering her own appreciation for them. To deepen her knowledge, Tonya began volunteering, dedicating her time to a worthwhile cause. Each volunteer experience has been enjoyable and filled with valuable learning opportunities. She eagerly looks forward to many more volunteer experiences in the future.
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Kayla Bellamy has been volunteering with TNGP since May 2024. With 15 years of hands-on experience cultivating a thriving backyard garden in the heart of Texas, she has come to love the unique challenges and rewards of gardening in this diverse climate. From nurturing vegetables and herbs to experimenting with native plants, Kayla has learned countless tips and tricks she is eager to share with fellow gardeners.
She is passionate about connecting with like-minded individuals who share a love for gardening, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another. Whether offering advice or lending a helping hand, Kayla looks forward to building a strong, supportive gardening community.
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We started gardening with The Neighborhood Garden Project in September of 2023. Tiffany saw a recommendation for the project on a Facebook group and was immediately interested. After meeting with Josh, Tiffany, her sons Tank, Jet, and her mom Melinda started their garden. Tiffany grew up with her grandparents and mom gardening every summer. Seeing the process and having fresh veggies was a great memory from her childhood. Tiffany wanted her boys to have that memory as well. The garden is where Tiffany can bring her boys to learn, play, and be in nature. Melinda loves fresh vegetables and loves to be out in nature as much as possible. Melinda enjoys learning about vegetables she never had growing up, like okra. They all are thankful for TNGP and what it brings to their lives.