"Community Garden Yields Record Cabbage Harvest"
Community Garden Yields Record Cabbage Harvest
The Brookside Community Garden celebrated an unexpected triumph this week: a record-breaking cabbage harvest that has left both volunteers and local residents buzzing with excitement. After months of diligent care, favorable weather, and a touch of good fortune, the garden yielded over 300 pounds of cabbage — nearly double the average from previous years.
Nestled behind the Brookside Recreation Center, the community garden has been a staple of the neighborhood since its founding in 2012. Run entirely by volunteers and supported by the Parks and Recreation Department, the garden provides fresh produce to local food banks, community kitchens, and residents. This year’s cabbage crop, grown in four raised beds, surpassed all expectations.
“We knew the plants were doing well, but we never imagined this kind of outcome,” said garden coordinator Lillian Perez, who has managed the space for the past five years. “The heads were big, beautiful, and dense — some weighing in at over six pounds.”
The success of the cabbage crop is attributed to a combination of improved composting practices, well-timed rainfall, and a mild growing season. Over the winter, volunteers introduced a new compost blend rich in organic matter, which appears to have significantly improved soil health. Additionally, weekly workshops on pest management and companion planting helped protect the crop from typical issues like aphids and cabbage moths.
Local gardener and longtime volunteer Gary Monroe credits the team’s commitment to experimentation and learning. “We’ve really been focused on soil quality and crop rotation,” he explained. “It’s not glamorous work, but it pays off. This year, it really paid off.”
The harvest was a true community effort. Over the weekend, nearly 30 volunteers — ranging in age from elementary schoolers to retirees — came out to help with the picking, cleaning, and sorting of the cabbages. Laughter and chatter filled the air as baskets and wheelbarrows were loaded with leafy green bundles.
“It was a beautiful thing to see,” said Jamal Rivers, a high school junior who’s volunteered at the garden for the past two summers. “We’re feeding people with food we grew ourselves. That feels good.”
More than half of the cabbage will be donated to the Brookside Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of local families each month. The rest will be distributed among volunteers and used in upcoming community cooking classes and canning workshops hosted at the recreation center.
Parks and Recreation Director Sandra Lowe praised the garden team for their efforts. “This is what community is all about — working together, growing something meaningful, and sharing it with others. The cabbage is just the beginning.”
Inspired by this year’s success, the garden team is already planning to expand their cabbage beds next season and experiment with other hearty crops like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
As the sun sets over the rows of freshly turned soil, the garden stands as a quiet but powerful reminder: with patience, teamwork, and a bit of dirt under your nails, remarkable things can grow.