When April and Bob Rinder moved to King-Bruwaert House (K-B House) in 2020 from their longtime home in Hinsdale, April never expected to become a vegetable gardener. “I’d had flower gardens before,” she said, “but I’m sort of surprised to find myself involved with the community vegetable garden.”
Despite her surprise, she’s an integral part of a crew of green-thumbed residents who tend to K-B House’s impressive vegetable garden. Planted in 1997 by K-B House resident Jack Foster, it is still lovingly overseen by him today. The 30-by-60 foot garden bed is bursting with an impressive variety of crops including potatoes, multiple types of squash, cucumbers, carrots, beets, radishes, beans, and a bounty of herbs. Teams of residents care for specific sections throughout the growing season. “My friend Lavina Gross and I planted, weed, trim, and harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans,” April said.
Farm to Table, Right At Home
Once harvested, the produce is placed in a large cooler, free for all residents to enjoy. “It’s nice because if you’re cooking and need something, you can come and help yourself to however much you need,” she said.
Learning As They Grow
Many participants had little or no experience with vegetable gardening when they started, but they have learned from one another as well as from experts. K-B House is home to several master gardeners, including Lorey Ford, who not only shares her own knowledge but also invites fellow master gardeners to offer help plant, and offer helpful tips and techniques. Resident Barb Sandy draws up a planting map each season, carefully planning crop placement to support soil health and proper rotation. “She knows which crops shouldn’t be planted where certain other plants grew the year before,” April said.
The sense of collaboration and teamwork is one of the most rewarding aspects. “We had a weedathon a year or two ago,” April recalled. “The garden had gotten out of control, so we announced this event and about two dozen people showed up to help.”
Fresh Flavor and Friendship
April finds great satisfaction in growing and sharing fresh produce, and she’s not alone. “Everything tastes so much better when it’s fresh,” she said. “When the vegetable ripens right in the garden, it’s different than vegetables that are shipped from somewhere else after being picked too early.”
For April and her fellow gardeners, the experience offers more than just crisp cucumbers and sweet tomatoes. It’s exercise, fresh air, shared purpose, teamwork, and the joy of watching something grow together.
At K-B House, the community vegetable garden is proof that it’s never too late to dig into something new.
