The Northfield Street Community Garden didn’t start with a big plan or a formal structure.
It started with a piece of land, a handful of people who loved to garden, and an idea.
Back in 2011–2012, National Life Group offered up a stretch of open meadow off Northfield Street. It was sunny, wide, and full of possibility. The thought was simple: create a space where people could grow food, and maybe grow something more along the way.
That first season, the garden began to take shape.
The land had been hayed for years, with visits from deer, woodchucks, and the occasional bear. With help from AmeriCorps volunteers and community members, the soil was turned, cover crops were planted, and fencing went up. Slowly, what had been an open field started to become something recognizable, a place where things could grow.
People claimed plots. Seeds went into the ground. And over time, something else started to grow too, a sense of connection.
The garden was never just about what came out of the soil. From the beginning, there was a shared understanding that this space could also help others. Alongside personal plots, food was grown and donated to local organizations, adding fresh produce to community meals and food shelves.
Like any garden, it didn’t grow without its challenges.
In 2014, one of the original organizers, Joseph, was seriously injured and suddenly unable to do the work he had been carrying. It could have been a moment where things slowed down or stopped, but instead, people stepped in.
Neighbors showed up. Gardeners took on roles. Work got done.
And in that moment, something important became clear:
This garden wasn’t meant to depend on just one person.
That same year, the garden grew in other ways too. New gardeners joined, more food was grown, and over 600 pounds of vegetables were donated to the Montpelier food pantry.
As the seasons passed, the garden continued to evolve.
There were meetings at the library, conversations about how to organize things better, ideas about shared roles, guidelines, and ways to keep things running smoothly. Some years were more organized than others. Some things worked, some didn’t. But through it all, the garden kept going.
Because people cared about it.
And they still do.
Now, the garden is entering another season of change, one that focuses on building a stronger foundation so it can continue for years to come. Moving toward a nonprofit structure is part of that. Not to change what the garden is, but to support it to make sure it has what it needs to keep going.
The purpose hasn’t changed.
It’s still a place where people come to grow food.
To share what they have.
To learn from each other.
To spend time outside.
To be part of something that doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.
And like any good garden…
The story is still growing
