Growing at BCBS: A Garden Tour with Maija and Ora
This year, the BCBS garden has been growing in more ways than one.
Maija and Ora recently took us on a tour to share what’s been planted, what’s blooming, and some of the ways the garden continues to support life at the Center.
The work began in March, when seeds were started in the basement of K5. From there, staff and volunteers prepared all 30 garden beds for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Today, the garden is full of tomatoes, peppers, squash, carrots, parsley, sunflowers, gladiolas, and dinner plate dahlias, which Maija and Ora grew for the first time this year. The vegetables and herbs make their way into the BCBS kitchen, while flowers are used on the altar and throughout campus.
The garden is also a place for practice. Its paths offer space for walking meditation, and future plans include adding seating where yogis can spend time quietly enjoying the garden.
Just outside the fenced-in beds, part of the land is intentionally left wild to support wildlife. Baby deer have bedded down there, and hummingbirds and monarch butterflies are frequent visitors. Pawpaw trees are growing nearby as well.
Several recent improvements are helping the garden flourish, including a new shed built by Dave, one of our per diem facilities workers, and a rain barrel that collects water for reuse in the garden.
We’re deeply grateful to the staff members and volunteers whose care has made all of this possible.
Help Our Garden Grow
Have an idea for the BCBS garden? We’d love to hear from you at contact@buddhistinquiry.org. And if you’d like to help the garden continue to grow and flourish, we warmly welcome your support.
