Blisters on My Hands UPDATED

I have blisters on my hands for the first time in awhile and it feels GREAT.

With Peace Corps Uganda on hold now until at least mid-2022 due to COVID, I am now stewarding a 9′ x 9′ plot at the Jolly Avenue Garden for refugees-of-war in Clarkston, GA (the most diverse square mile in the USA and a major refugee resettlement community). I even got to clear the land myself (hence, blisters!).

Here is a sketch of my design plan.

I’ll be there Saturday mornings if anyone ever wants to swing by to chat or help. I’m also hoping to work with a refugee family I know there.

Today is the last day on this year’s trip around the sun for me. Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the Dunwoody Community Garden, where so, so many life-changing things happened for me and my dear friends during those early start-up years there and at the many other gardens we started. It feels good to be sowing new seeds of change right now. Especially now.

If interested, here is more about the Jolly Avenue Garden, which is a project of the Friends for Refugees.

I couldn’t wait to text Rebecca about this (she is the original reason the Dunwoody Community Garden exists — it is now the largest volunteer-run community garden in the State of Georgia), and she is meeting me there next.

I wanted desperately to send one other text (just as I wanted to the day I saw the bed springs there) but couldn’t, and I thus do this in memory and honor of my friend Bob, who was my partner in starting and reviving gardens all over Metro Atlanta, and who loved Clarkston with all his heart.

My book, Food for My Daughters* (published on the 10th anniversary of 9/11) turns 10 on the 20th anniversary of those terrorist attacks in just a couple of weeks. So much has changed. And so little.

I just keep planting. It seems to help when nothing else does.

*100% of proceeds from the sale of the book are used to help grow food for those in need. Thank you for your support.

Update 8/30/21

The Sharing Garden is now installed and planted. Rajesh and Katie, employees of the garden through Friends for Refugees tilled for me Friday (I was gonna do it Saturday but they had to return the tiller to the Atlanta Tool Bank Friday). Rebecca helped me Saturday. Below is its story so far in 18 seconds. The plot is nestled between one stewarded by a woman from Burma (who gave Rebecca a culinary tour of her bounty), and a man from Ethiopia (whom we haven’t met yet). If you would like to be on Team Water to help water this plot, please let me know. There is a hose conveniently nearby.