Community members got together for a turkey giveaway at volunteer-run Vermont Avenue Community Garden.
They gave away over 50 turkeys, among other things. The garden is voluntary. There are no assigned plots.
“We like to give back, but the main inspiration was due to the fact that the SNAP benefit was shut down and a lot of people would be without Thanksgiving,” said Yolanda Mathis, a garden leader.
Volunteers did not check whether recipients also receive SNAP or such services. It was entirely on the honor system.
William Moore was second in line for a turkey. He has two kids – a total of three people sharing the smaller Whole Foods Organic turkey.
“It’s truly a blessing, because not too many people have food to eat,” Moore said. “That’s a real conversation…So it’s a blessing for me to be able to feed my family. I’m truly grateful, in every way and every sense that you can even express.”
Abigail Rodriguez also felt the turkey was a blessing. She is feeding 12 people with the turkey.
“This is actually the first time, because we’re going through a big situation.”
This is the first year for the turkey giveaway. Next summer will be the third for the garden.
Ruby Hughes started the garden decades ago, and died in 2005. It went vacant for 20 years until this small group got together to revive it. That was three years ago.
“Originally, we wanted to do a community fridge by the bus stop,” said Ayah Nimir, who leads the group. “And then, we met with some people, and they were like, ‘You can’t put a fridge. It’s illegal.’ And we’re like, ‘Okay, let’s do something different.’”
Tyson James remembered the plot from his youth and directed them there. They grow various vegetables throughout the season, though Hughes focused on flowers before it went vacant. Anyone can harvest anything the volunteers grow, at any time.
“It’s a free space,” Ayah said. “If you want to host a class, have a birthday, have a party, have a barbecue, you don’t have to pay to come here.”
One goal is to add indigenous plants to restore the ecosystem of the plot. Another is to build a deck with a firepit and benches, covered by arches to grow watermelons and grapes. Local parents want something for kids, so Ayah suggested a swingset.
At the giveaway, there were clothes and toys tables. Plus the ever-present free library with a James Baldwin quote painted on the side. They gave away mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and turkey-flavored stuffing. Fresh carrots were included from local farmer Brandon Turtle.
“I’ve been teaching myself. I utilize African and indigenous practices in order to reconnect to Mother Earth,” Turtle said. “So, for me, that’s the whole goal. To be more connected to the Earth and give it more respect. So we can create a process of reciprocity, instead of just taking from people and the land.”
It seems everybody on the block is involved in the garden somehow. Adjacent neighbor Martin Daniels provides water for it. Several people volunteered to run the turkey giveaway.
Niani Javier was first in line, and she’s feeding a family of seven.
“It’s a bless, because not everybody can get it,” Javier said. “Today, the situation, everything in the country is messed up. So it’s a bless.”
