Winter Storytelling Tour

Our work is bound up with the seasons and winter is a time for reflection, taking stock, building community and planning for the growing season. This winter, we're bringing the stories of growing food and flowers behind bars to you! The prison courtyards and classrooms that we work in are largely invisible to the public. Through these talks, workshops and discussions, we're shining light on local prisons and sharing our experiences with the simple, transformative intervention of prison gardens.

Whenever we're out in the community- at festivals, conferences and lectures- we're selling these handsome shirts and sweatshirts. Wear your heart on your sleeve and support prison gardens at the same time! All our gear is printed in Dorchester and available in men's sizes S-XL. Hoodies and t-shirts feature TNGS' seal on the chest and 'Transforming Landscapes Transforming Lives' across the back. The New Garden Society's seal is a powerful symbol to wear out into the field featuring the native Juneberry and 'Thus I Flourish.' See you in the field!

Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

Longyear Museum with the Chestnut Hill Garden Club

Tuesday, January 10th, 10:00 am

NOFA Winter Conference: Prison Garden Ethics Workshop

Worcester State University, Worcester, MA

Saturday, January 14th

 Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

Lincoln Garden Club

Monday, February 6th, 9:30 am

 Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Saturday, March 4th

 2017 New England Farm to Institution Summit: 

Growing & Gleaning Food with Incarcerated Individuals Panel Discussion

Leominster, MA

 Wednesday-Friday, April 5th- 7th

 Transforming Landscapes, Transforming Lives: Why Prison Gardens Matter

The Cottage Gardener Club, Marblehead, MA

Tuesday, April 11th, 1:30 pm

The Renovation of a Garden--or Not! Problem-Solving During Budget Cuts

By: Renée Portanova

Over the past three seasons, we have witnessed the effects of budget cuts within the Department of Corrections, but our programs really started to feel it last season. Our programming relies heavily on the collaboration and availability of Recreational Officers (rec. officers) at the prisons we serve.  They are our escorts when we are facilitating programs, and chaperone participants into the garden while responsibilities are performed  on ‘off-program’ days.  We think of them as colleagues, and the coordination of our programs rely on their involvement.

At the inception of programming in 2013, Bridgewater State Hospital had five rec. officers on duty during our program time.  Officer V. ran programming in collaboration with us, while the remainder managed other daily recreational responsibilities.  With adequate staff coverage, programming went off without a hitch, and participants made it outside several times a week to water, weed and maintain the garden.   

Since then, staff has been reduced to just two rec. officers, causing access to the garden during ‘off-program’ days to be near impossible.  Staff limitations have caused the productivity and aesthetic of the garden and, quite frankly, the morale of the gardeners to suffer. With limited access to the garden, seedlings were swallowed by lambsquarter and ragweed, or weakened by inadequate watering.

In response, The New Garden Society came up with a strategy for minimizing maintenance needs in the garden. The renovation of the garden aimed to reduce weeds, reduce watering needs, and organize the garden, delineating pathways from beds.

We can’t solve the larger issue of reduction in staff, but we have been able to teach and implement known methods for reducing garden maintenance, boosting productivity and spirit.

Our recipe for a lower-maintenance garden:

• Apply wood chips to pathways to reduce sunlight for weed seeds.

• Plant more perennials, especially those resistant to drought.

• Sheet mulch beds rather than disturbing the soil (and weed seed bed).

• Water deeply and less frequently.

• Add organic material (such as compost and leaf mulch) to the soil, helping to retain moisture and build the soil food web.

• Work with maintenance staff to combat weeds in neighboring areas in a timely manner.

Sisters Unchained

By Ayana Aubourg

In July, The New Garden Society had the honor of collaborating with Sisters Unchained, a Boston based collective which supports young women of color with formerly or currently incarcerated parents, through healing and community empowerment initiatives.  This year, as part of their first 6-week summer learning program, TNGS led an Introduction to Gardening workshop, hosted at the Old Oak Dojo.  The session was co-facilitated by Renee Portanova, Hadas Yanay and Sisters Unchained mentors: Ayana and Meron.  Read Ayana's take away from the workshop and about the powerful work of Sisters Unchained.

We always begin our day with morning circle. This is a time to eat breakfast, check in, read an affirmation, and celebrate a women of the day. As a group we made a ritual statement that is recited before we honor and learn about a revolutionary women of color. A typical day in our space usually consists of workshops, collective visioning and art.

Everyday we are excited to be part of Sisters Unchained because we bring our true selves to the space and everyone is so real with one another. 

The past couple of weeks, our sisters have chose to focus on how issues of homelessness and incarceration are intertwined. We have made and passed out free lunches and water for the homeless population at Downtown Crossing with the intent of building stronger communities and listening to peoples stories. We are currently working on a mini poetry book that encompasses the stories we have heard while passing out free food. 

This summer, we have been learning about autonomous communities. STRONG COMMUNITIES. What does this look like? Is this possible? What are the barriers? How can we start working towards our vision? 

Our experience with the New Garden Society aligned perfectly with the questions we've been exploring. Hadas and Reneé led us through a full day of gardening and showed us what it truly means to grow our own food. Our sisters had a lot of burning questions, some hesitation, but all in all, were ready to be hands on and active in the Dojo garden. After the workshop, one of the young women explained how inspired she was to help her mother garden. Another sister expressed her interest for volunteering with the New Garden Society. We appreciate the facilitators for bringing a ton of knowledge, patience, and enthusiasm to our space!! One thing that striked us all is how tiny a cabbage seed is... We were so shocked! PURE MAGIC. The lessons we learn from Mama Earth never cease to amaze us. 

The power of planting seeds, whether in a garden, or in our communities and selves, shows us that transformation IS possible. 

We thank the New Garden Society for their vision and inspiring work. 

A wall is just a wall...

Sisters Unchained!