Back behind the building at Johns Hopkins at Eastern, down a hill of rugged stone steps, lies the Blue Jay's Perch Community Garden. On this particular mid-April morning, the garden is mostly tasks that need tending to: weeds pulled, compost laid, plots planned. But there are a few vegetables already making the most of the early spring cool, including onions and leafy greens.
The garden contains two dozen individual plots for community members, students, and clubs, as well as a small but mighty fruit orchard and three larger community plots. Many students tend to these communal areas over the course of a year, allowing them to get their hands dirty without the long-term obligations of an individual plot.
"We're actually a zero-commitment club," says junior Eli Lesher, president of Blue Jay's Perch. "We have students who come every week. We have students who come once or twice a semester. ... There's no attendance requirements or anything. It's come when you want."
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
The regular students meet every Saturday morning, although some also stop by during the week. On one such Saturday, after their standard tasks were finished, members gathered for a spirited discussion about seed packets. "No, we've already done sunflowers," one objected. The others agreed, moving on to other options.
In the end, they set out to plant hollyhocks and coneflowers, which will add some cheerful pink to the garden's north border. More importantly, these pollinator plants will draw in bees and butterflies, strengthening everyone's plots.
An hour later, the students went home with fresh asparagus, mint, and a bit of sun on the tips of their noses. While the promise of fresh food draws many members in, it's the experience that keeps them coming back.
"I wanted free food, so I joined," jokes senior Annaka Saffron. "Then I got here, and I found out that it was really good for relieving stress."
According to Lesher, Blue Jay's Perch attracts gardeners of all backgrounds.
"We're a pretty even split between students who come from rural areas and are like, 'What am I doing in the city,' and then the students who just thought that a gardening club sounds cool and have never done it before," Lesher says. "That's the same with our plot holders as well."
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
With spring underway, experienced gardeners in Baltimore and beyond are rolling up their sleeves and stepping outside. But what about the beginners? The Hub visited Blue Jay's Perch to learn some time-honored tips from JHU's community gardeners.
1. Do your research
Not every plant is suited to every climate or every season. How much sunlight does it need? How much water? What temperatures can it tolerate?
"The weather in Maryland is very unpredictable," says Saffron. "Figuring out when to plant, when to harvest—it's definitely different than what the package of the seeds says."
A few hours of research can be the difference between a bountiful harvest and a patch of dead plants. Experienced local gardeners are an especially useful resource. Ask them for guidance, Lesher suggests, and learn from their mistakes.
"A lot of our plot holders are first-time gardeners, and we can always give them advice," he says. "We usually help them when they first set up their plots, figure out what to plant and show them how to do things."
2. Diversify (and accept occasional failure)
The gardeners at Blue Jay's Perch grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, okra, garlic, onions, lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, snap peas, figs, peaches, cherries, mulberries, grapes, pawpaws, apples, and various herbs and flowers.
This variety is the natural result of so many gardeners, but it also serves as insurance. Not every crop will do well every year. By diversifying its orchard and community plots, the garden can make sure it has something to harvest most weeks.
"Sometimes gardening is hard. You'll plant something and nothing grows," says Lesher. "Those of us who have been at the garden for a long time, we don't mind, we're used to it. Like, 'Oh, those ones didn't come up this year.' But for people who are new, it can be kind of discouraging to realize that's how it works."
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
The important thing, he advises, it to keep at it.
"If we're trying to grow spinach, for example, we'll sow it every week for probably four weeks," says Lesher. "We'll put seeds in and maybe one week we'll grow or two weeks we'll grow, but not every time."
3. Recruit a friend
Gardening doesn't have to be a solo task. In fact, at Blue Jay's Perch, it rarely is. Many of the individual plots belong to local families or Hopkins clubs, with multiple people sharing the responsibility.
"It is a lot to manage on your own," says Lesher. "We find that people who do it with a friend, even if they have no idea what they're doing and they've never done it before, tend to do a lot better and don't get discouraged."
Short on helping hands? Blue Jay's Perch has it covered. Even solo plot holders can receive support from student volunteers, says sophomore Kathy Quito.
"[We] help them if they need anything like weeding or harvesting plants that they aren't able to take back home," she says. "I don't have my own plots, but I help with whatever people are interested in planting."
4. Consider joining a community garden
Starting a garden comes with a whole host of challenges. Many urban gardeners don't even have enough space to get started.
"At the Homewood campus, there's not a lot of opportunity to actually get your hands dirty in soil," Lesher says. "We have some outdoor spaces, but it's not really the same as having an outdoor space that's yours."
Community gardens like Blue Jay's Perch offer space, supplies, and support to both new and experienced gardeners. It's what they're designed to do.
"We're always looking to get more people involved," Lesher says. "We have a big space that we want people to be able to use and enjoy."
