How does a collection of temporary residents in a transitional housing project become a community of neighbors? For the Hotel to Home bridge housing program of Reinvestment Partners, the effort to do so centers on a garden—or more specifically, two garden beds. The garden beds were built a year ago by staff and volunteers of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Gardens For Everyone project at the Carolina Duke Inn in Durham. Program residents assisted in the installation and initial planting of the boxes, and then took care of garden upkeep. The first harvest resulted in a bountiful crop that led to a communal meal that the residents prepared and enjoyed together. By all accounts, the inaugural season of the Hotel to Home garden was a success!
But folks living in the program move on, and a garden—by its very nature—needs tending. When MicKala (Kala) Hinnant became Resident Advocate Coordinator for the Hotel to Home residents, she admits that she was more than a little intimidated by the prospect of taking on responsibility for the garden beds. “I am not a gardener,” she makes clear. But some of those living at the Carolina Duke Inn found their way to the garden to help with planting and weeding and watering. And for some who are so inclined, harvesting and preparing what grows in the garden.
For Nadya, who is by her own admission, new to gardening, planting and watering what’s growing gives her something to keep her mind occupied. It provides her with a sense of self-discipline, having that commitment to care for the growing plants. She’s hesitant to take credit for it, but Kala is quick to point out that Nadya planted the entire garden this last season. “It gave me a fresh start and I like that,” says Nadya.
Nadya
Adam takes a daily walk to the garden, with the aid of his walker. “I’ve been around growing things my whole life. It’s a blessing to feel the earth and plant things. It’s good for the mind to see things grow. It’s therapeutic,” he says with conviction. His limited mobility has hindered his ability to get his hands in the dirt much, but he proudly says he “helped bring back the tomatoes” this past summer.
Adam
Kala says that almost all of the 27 Hotel to Home residents enjoy the garden in some capacity. “Harvest is free range. Sometimes it’s a problem, but some of our residents really do know their produce!” She says that the garden provides a sense of engagement for the residents. “It’s not just a place where plants are growing. It provides nutrition, an opportunity to cook, a need for tending. It’s therapy.” She applauds the “unification that comes from the community that has grown up around the garden.”
Kala Hinnant
Mikey Cristiano, Community Garden Coordinator at the Geer Street Learning Garden in Durham, has been an invaluable mentor for the Hotel to Home garden project, and has given Kala gardening inspiration of her own. “I have so many plants now, and they’re all growing!” she says, smiling. The Carolina Duke Inn residents are currently enjoying a fine crop of mustard greens, lettuce, radishes, and collards, and are looking forward to a healthy harvest of carrots, spinach, turnips, and green onions soon.