Community Gardener Spotlight: Elizete Barbosa

On the corner of Page and Buchanan, behind the playground, lies a charming community garden called Koshland Community Gardens that is cared for by nearby neighbors. Elizete Barbosa is one of many dedicated community gardeners that is passionate about cultivating a beautiful, plentiful, and welcoming space. Many people wait years to be plucked off the waitlist and given a garden bed, Elizete included.

She obtained a plot in 2020 during the height of the pandemic and began gardening with no formal training. Growing up in Brazil, she used to watch her grandma garden but really became passionate about it after doing her own research by watching videos, reading books, and joining clubs. The main driver was that she wanted to live a simple life and learn how to live off the land. Teaching friends how to garden, propagating plants, foraging for mushrooms, drying flowers and herbs for tea, reusing materials for new projects… now THAT is fighting back against consumerism.

“Gardening is resistance” is the theme that our conversation kept going back to. Gardening promotes self-reliance and it challenges dominant systems that have been taught to us that we cannot live without. Along with the joy of growing and harvesting your own produce, gardening brings many other qualities that better gardener’s lives.

“This garden has helped me so much. After working here for 3 or 4 hours, I can get my head off of whatever is going on out there… I’ll take it. It releases my stress, makes me really tired to get home and have a good night sleep to prepare to fight the next day.”

Being able to relieve your stress, anxiety, and pent up energy in a healthy way is so necessary in these days of constant technological stimulation and pressures. Elizete’s advice for people that want to start their gardening journey would be to start small. She also reminds us that gardening at Koshland is “more for your mind, not for your belly.”

If you would like to check out Elizete’s plot, make your way to plot #1. She is currently growing corn, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, and marigolds.

Disclaimer: Koshland is a space for anyone to enjoy but please be aware that harvesting is only to be done by the individual community gardeners of that plot. Please do not take produce, herbs, or flowers from the garden. If you would like to get involved in the garden, apply to be placed on the wait list or join volunteer days!