Community Sai Garden: Greater Boston Sai Centers, MA
During the Memorial Day weekend in 2024, members of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) from across the Northeast Region, USA gathered for their annual retreat. As an offering of service, they also worked on their community gardening initiative at the Sai Unity Center, Lowell, MA to cultivate fresh produce for local food insecure households and Minuteman Community College students. Launched in 2023, Sai volunteers had already established six raised beds and a fence. In 2024, they set a more ambitious target of adding twelve more raised beds and an upgraded irrigation system.
More than 50 Sai volunteers made this endeavor possible through their meticulous planning and coordination. Essential materials, including wood, soil, seeds and tools, were procured from local businesses, hardware stores and gardening centers in preparation for the build.
From Memorial Day weekend extending through June 2024, volunteers from various Sai centers and Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) students worked together to construct and fill the garden beds. Through teamwork and dedication, they were able to complete the project on schedule.
The project was a vibrant collective experience. Families from food insecure households for whom the community garden was set up, worked alongside Sai volunteers to learn about vegetable gardening and care for their new community plot. Joy and enthusiasm filled the air as the families discovered the rewards of growing their own food.
To enhance the garden's ecosystem, volunteers also planted pollinator-friendly flowers to attract butterflies, promoting biodiversity.
The community gardening service surpassed expectations, cultivating a strong sense of community spirit while encouraging sustainable living. Participants found the hands-on activity of constructing garden beds and planting vegetables immensely rewarding and a great learning experience. The project's success has inspired future community gardening endeavors to support the Lowell Community and reduce food insecurity.