After 13 years of dedicated volunteer service, Jeanne Bauer has retired from the Board of Directors at the San Carlos Community Garden (SCCG).

Jeanne’s journey with SCCG began in 2011 at the request of (then) Associate Pastor Brent Ross from the San Carlos United Methodist Church. After several failed attempts to establish a community garden in the area, Pastor Ross formed a small committee, and Jeanne was invited to join. “He asked me to determine the feasibility of finally accomplishing it,” Jeanne recalls. Little did she know that this step would lead to a long-lasting legacy that would shape the future of the community.

For Jeanne, volunteering is deeply personal and is inspired by a simple yet profound belief: “You make the world a better place.” This sentiment, engraved on a small plate she received years ago, has become her guiding principle. “If I have the ability to actually do that, even in a small, insignificant way, I must do whatever I can,” she explains.

From the beginning, Jeanne fulfilled the full-time volunteer position on the Leadership Team as Resource Manager handling all financial responsibilities, managing leases for our 62 garden plots and a myriad other requirements of a community endeavor. Jeanne also played an instrumental role in helping SCCG obtain its 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status in 2021.

Reflecting on her 13 years with SCCG, Jeanne is most proud of the transformation of the garden itself. “The first time I walked into the area, there was an old garden shed, a couple of benches, and two or three small garden beds. And a whole lot of dirt.” Over the years, she has watched it evolve into a flourishing community space, a place of beauty, connection, and growth. “It has been a most gratifying experience for me, knowing that I played a part in that evolution,” she says with pride.

Jeanne’s connection to the garden goes beyond just its physical transformation. She has a unique bond with the flowers she planted—her “girls,” as she lovingly calls them. While many gardeners focused on vegetables, Jeanne’s passion was for the vibrant blooms. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, these flowers became her solace. “I talked, and they listened to my fears for my friends and family,” she reflects. “The loss of so many lives, the changes caused by COVID-19… they helped me handle the horrible situation of a worldwide pandemic.”

Jeanne’s connection to nature is evident in the advice she offers to prospective volunteers: “Visit the garden when it is lightly raining and absorb the smell of the earth. Go on a warm, sunny morning when you can almost see the plants stretching and growing. Stop by in the winter and step quietly as the plants are sleeping.” For Jeanne, the garden is more than a place to grow plants—it’s a space to find peace, form friendships, and nurture the community.

While Jeanne has stepped away from her leadership role with SCCG, her impact will continue to be felt in the blooms that thrive, the friendships that form, and the garden she helped create.

Learn more about the San Carlos Community Garden at sancarloscommunitygarden.com.