Gardening is more than just growing plants. For our people, it’s creating new life and setting the foundation for future generations. Let’s take a look at the root of this situation.
In 1932, several garden clubs joined forces to create the Negro Garden Club of Virginia. Black garden clubs were groups of people that got together to grow plants, along with providing education, food, and supplies for those in need. They offered a network for Black people to strategize against racism. And just like the flowers they planted, these clubs kept on growing.
The Negro Garden Club of Virginia became one of the biggest Black garden clubs in the U.S., with over 60 different chapters. However, Black garden clubs are not as popular as they once were, and that’s a problem.
It has been shown that gardening can help reduce anxiety and be an escape from the racism and oppression we still face today. It may take some time to make Black garden clubs prominent again, but we can change that.
Let’s all try our hand in gardening and build a surrounding social atmosphere, whether it be with a few potted plants, or an entire field of flowers. History shows how beneficial gardening was for us, so let’s continue to grow the Black empowerment that these clubs already set the foundation for.