Long before we had The Yarden, my husband and I lived in a two-flat with our friend (and landlord), Jim, who lived upstairs. The back yard was a big patch of grass… and, being a lifelong garden junkie, I asked if we could tear up some of that useless lawn to plant a vegetable garden. Neither he nor Peter knew what they were getting themselves into – it makes me sport an evil grin thinking of it all these years later.

Together we installed an awesome raised-bed garden on one side of the yard, a memorial garden to a recently departed friend in one corner, “Mark’s Garden”, and we took over the fence between us and the neighbors to grow nasturtiums and charantais melons.

Mark's Garden

That first early spring when Peter  and Jim were lugging bags of soil, removing invasive morning glory and building raised beds I have to report that there was a little bit of complaining (I had to ply them with bacon). But it quickly subsided and as the weekends rolled by, they became the ones ready surprisingly early on a weekend morning to do whatever garden tasks needed to be done.

Over the course of a summer we all found our garden stride – Jim liked watering. Peter liked picking (and watching fireflies – unknown to him in his native Sweden) and I liked it all. Especially cooking for both of them from what we had grown.

We used found objects when possible...

We got a lot of produce out of four raised beds!

Peter admiring his handiwork...

We moved out of that cute building with the bucolic backyard (and fantastic landlord) after we bought a vintage condo in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. It was beautiful with a view of the beach but no garden space. The first year or so this didn’t bother me too much. I tried container gardening on the postage stamp sized back porch but the strong winds off the lake prevented that from succeeding. After the first summer I gave up.

By the third year I started to get edgy and talked Peter into looking for summer houses in nearby states (Michigan, Indiana) so we could have a garden. Every year for five years, around spring, the urge to garden would get so strong we’d go on house hunting sprees to see if we could find something affordable with some gardening space. We never did find anything that made sense…

Eventually, after seven years of gardenless heartbreak, Peter woke up one morning in February and said “Let’s go look at houses.” I was skeptical after all those summers of disappointment but we went anyway and quickly found the “yard with the house attached to it” that would become our home and The Yarden.

Why am I telling you all this? Because if I could have found a place to share a yard while living in that lovely condo I would have. But the resources weren’t available to do so…

Now they are.

As you know, we’re committed to persuading everyone we know to grow some of their own food… seriously! But you can’t do that if you don’t have a place to garden. This great online tool has the solution…

If you want to garden, now you have a resource to find someone who is willing to share space. We believe so strongly in this concept that we’re pledging our support to help Hyperlocavore raise funds for the next version of the software, via Kickstarter, by March 28th. Because we can’t talk you into growing your own fabulous, fresh and healthy produce if you don’t have a place to do it!

Here’s what you can do to help:

• Small amounts make a difference – sacrifice a Starbucks for a day and give the $5 to this great cause
• Tell your friends – especially friends that want to garden but are space-challenged…
• Sign up to share a yard! You can see for yourself how easy it is to start gardening THIS SUMMER. And maybe you’ll be so happy, you’ll pony up a few bucks
• Come to our lecture March 28 on “Chicago Victory Gardens: Yesterday and Tomorrow” – all proceeds are going to Hyperlocavore’s fundraising drive. Click HERE to order tickets.

If my compelling arguments have gotten you interested in contributing to Hyperlocavore, click HERE for details.

In the photo above, “Mark’s Garden,” you see a green gazing ball. The first season we had The Yarden, Jim came over with that same gazing ball and told us he had carried it around, moving it from house to house for the past eight years because he knew SOMEDAY we’d have a garden again and it belonged there…

Our experience together all those years ago made Jim and Peter both lifelong gardeners. Jim comes over even when we’re not there to get his hands dirty in The Yarden and is ready to help, as he did years ago, with whatever gardening chores we need.  And, of course, without Peter aka “The Teutonic Gardener” (chief irrigation specialist and tomato pruner extraordinaire!) The Yarden wouldn’t be possible.

Any gardener will tell you… gardening is a gift and Hyperlocavore can help you share it THIS SEASON. Don’t suffer – get gardening!

Jim's Gazing Ball Installed Season One