A cat named bell pepper

Well, that probably isn’t his name, but it seemed like an attention grabbing title. Better than the less unique Finding Hope.

This summer, I have been volunteering to take care of a small plot at a community garden. The garden is located in a farmstead community for people with developmental differences, mainly adults with Autism.

It is only recently that I have become involved with Benjamin’s Hope, but I have been aware of this unique place since its inception.

In my last post I wrote that it has been a while since I have found inspiration in the brick and mortar building with the white steeple, but I have found plenty of it here.

For the past couple of years our family has been attending Sunday night services on a fairly regular basis, COVID changed perspective on a lot of things, this perfectly imperfect place became more of a home than anywhere else.

This summer, in an effort to connect residents with those of us who live off the farm, Ben’s Hope has been offering some low key, low stress ways to engage. One of those ways is the Adopt A Garden Bed project.

My daughter and I both signed up. She, in charge of the beets and radishes. I got the lettuce and Tomatillos. Her radishes got picked early, so all she had left was the beets. Lettuce was easy enough, but I have no idea what to do with Tomatillos. Growing up, we grew tomatoes. My dad still grows tomatoes.

The weeding hasn’t been too challenging. I got some good photos, made a furry friend, and had some low-key conversations with a few of the residents. But most of all I have learned that you can’t just come because you are needed, you have to come because there is a deep need inside of you.