Reaping the Rewards of Reciprocity
by Lynn Leach
The rewards of giving back to your community are a joy that can be readily realized. Reciprocity refers to the exchange of goods, services and support between individuals and groups for mutual benefit. In a community setting, this reciprocal relationship can build meaningful relationships, trust in your community and happiness – things we all need to thrive, no matter what our age, or background. More than ever, community services and initiatives rely on the skills and expertise that volunteers have to offer. For an organization, it often means the difference in being able to provide something special that will make an extraordinary difference to the people that they serve.
In our community, there are many organizations that specifically rely on volunteers to help with gardening to keep public spaces looking beautiful. For many reasons, it is an opportunity that I would whole-heartedly encourage anyone to try.
Improve Your Physical Fitness
Gardening is hard work! With all of that lifting, stretching and bending it is widely acknowledged that gardening regularly can improve your strength, endurance, agility and balance. We all know that fresh air and exercise is good for us, and that most of us do not do enough of it! Gardening as part of a volunteer team, allows you to work on your physical wellness, in a fun and supportive environment.
Meet Like-minded People
Sharing your time and enthusiasm for gardening, puts you in touch with others who are equally passionate about their green thumbs. Depending on the organization, garden volunteers will meet regularly, and usually as a group. This is a wonderful way to build social connections within your community, and a way to build enduring friendships.
Learn Some New Skills
Gardeners are some of the kindest people you will meet, and they are always thrilled to share their knowledge and experience. If you are an inexperienced gardener and hoping to learn more, this is a wonderful chance to learn ‘hands-on’ skills like pruning or expanding on your plant repertoire, in a supportive and fun environment. It’s also a chance for personal growth. You will learn more about the people who live in your community and be inspired by those special individuals who consistently give back.
Show off and Share Your Expertise
Maybe you are a life-long gardener and have serious skills to share. Perhaps you have full mastery of Latin plant names or have the capability to grow football-sized tomatoes! Whatever your expertise, there is no better way to celebrate your knowledge, than to share it. Often a volunteer team consists of people of various ages and with diverse skill sets. This can be an opportunity for you to mentor someone who is willing to learn. It could be a teenager, that is entirely new to the garden, or maybe a less experienced adult gardener who just wants to know more. Many of these display gardens, that rely on volunteers, are enjoyed by a vast number of visitors and community members. Putting your skills on display can promote a genuine sense of pride in your knowledge and the hard work of your team.
Finding Meaning and Purpose
Contributing to your community in a way that helps others, can give enormous meaning and purpose to your day, and to your life. It can be a reason to get up in the morning and may provide you with the assurance that you are valued and have an important role to play within your neighbourhood. This supports happiness, and your well-being. We all long to live within the warm embrace of a compassionate community – knowing that when we can, we give to those that need us. And when we are in need, there are people who will provide us with support. In this way, volunteering can be a powerful life-affirming act.
In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer writes “Just as all beings have a duty to me, I have a duty to them. If an animal gives its life to feed me, I am in turn bound to support its life. If I receive a stream’s gift of pure water, then I am responsible for returning a gift in kind.” This is how communities work best. Embrace this spirit of reciprocity and find the perfect garden volunteer opportunity to suit your skills and schedule. Many local display gardens are maintained by volunteer members of the Garden Club in your community – Paris Horticultural Society, Brantford Garden Club, Glen Morris Horticultural Society, St. George Garden Club, Burford and District Horticultural Association and Lynden Horticultural Society.
If you live in the Brantford area, Stedman Community Hospice has an enthusiastic team of garden volunteers who meet weekly to care for the large gardens on the campus of St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre. This team gratefully welcomes gardeners of all ages and skill level, including high school students needing to fulfill their high school volunteer hours.