With the year winding down, I’ve been reflecting on all that has been accomplished during my first year as Chair of the San Carlos Community Garden (SCCG) and am filled with gratitude for all those who contributed. 

From our monthly Garden Education Workshops to our Yoga and Meditation Series, Playtime in the Garden for young children, Summer Youth Ambassador Program for high school teens, and the vibrant Stuff the Pantry Summer Concert Series – SCCG has been alive with activity in 2024!  None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our gardeners, volunteers and community partners who make SCCG so special.

Volunteers, like Leslie Nelson and Bree Gonzales who foster community connections through events like our monthly Produce Swap, or Michael Land and his “compost posse” who labor each week over piles of food scraps and mulch to produce the finest compost in town. Others like Pam Hunt who maintains our Little Library, Alan Comstock who cares for our orchard, and Luciano Emanuele who ensures the sidewalks surrounding the garden are swept clean every Saturday to ensure a safe and welcoming walkway.

Local community partners like the San Carlos United Methodist Church, Boy Scout Troop 959, and local businesses such as Aloha Solar, Precision Concrete Designs, Brightview Landscape, Southwest Boulder & Stone, and Blue Shield of California have generously contributed their time and resources to enhance the garden, including the recent installation of the picturesque Lake Adlon Trail (come check it out)!

I’d be remiss to not mention our dedicated leadership team and talented committee members who tirelessly work to keep our mission of “Growing Community” alive and aligned with our four pillars—Gardening for nutrition and beauty, Knowledge for healthy living and environmental stewardship, Collaboration among neighbors and schools, and Spirit through inspiration and healing.

A sanctuary of inspiration and healing 

During this holiday season, if you’re in need of a space to reflect, relax, and rejuvenate your spirit the garden welcomes you. In fact, numerous studies show that spending time in nature reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood, making SCCG a sanctuary for healing and connection.

Thomas Ryden, who became part of the SCCG community in July, calls the garden “a special place where people can connect to improve the health of our society.”  

“Nature is our source of health that informs us of who we are, what’s important, how we should feel, and what we should attain,” said Ryden.  “Our private homes can isolate us from Nature’s benefits. A community garden space can restore this for all of us, together.”

Pam Hunt, another SCCG gardener shares, “Everyone has “stuff” going on, but when you go to the garden you can let that go for a bit, and you become grounded and leave with a clearer head: I find it such a healing, welcoming, and an inclusive environment.”

Our joint-use school partnership with the Sierra School of San Diego also continues to flourish and serve as an educational and therapeutic space for Sierra staff and their students.  

Jessica Leiser, one of the school’s Occupational Therapists, explains that the garden has been a beneficial resource that helps students and staff self-regulate and has been beneficial to support their student’s population physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development.

Free yoga and meditation: Healing for the soul

The SCCG is more than a place for gardening—it’s a refuge for who seek comfort, whether they’re grieving a loss, seeking solace, or simply looking for a space to grow personally.

Gentle Yoga and Meditation is one of SCCG’s free monthly programs that helps rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.

Held on the first and third Sundays of each month from 9 – 10 a.m., these classes offer participants an opportunity to slow down, stretch, breathe deeply, and practice mindfulness in the peaceful outdoor setting of the garden. Led by local volunteers, Lindsay Rogers and Chris Wood, participants take part in 40 minutes of gentle yoga followed by 20 minutes of meditation. 

“Yoga has been a transformative journey for me, nurturing not just my body but my entire being,” says Rogers.  “Through slow flow and gentle movements, it has strengthened and revitalized my physical health. Yet, its true power lies beyond the physical—through breath work, meditation, and mindfulness, yoga has brought healing and clarity to my mind. It has deepened my spiritual connection, creating harmony between my mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Yoga isn’t just a practice for me; it’s a path to holistic wellness, empowering me to live with balance, peace, and vitality.”

Mark, a regular meditation participant, shares his experience: “The garden is a great place to relax. During mediation, we’re not in a hurry. We can just appreciate the garden as it is and feel the care that so many people give to it. It’s nice to mediate together and encourage each other. Afterwards, I can go about my business with a little clearer head. The Garden is a neighborhood treasure.” 

“The garden itself is like a big hug,” shares another regular attendee. “When you combine it with yoga and meditation, it feels like you’re truly recharging your spirit.”

Visit the San Carlos Community Garden

The SCCG is open to the public every Saturday from 9 – 11 a.m., and first and third Sundays for yoga and meditation. 

Para más información visite sancarloscommunitygarden.com.