When Service Takes Root
“I get a lot of joy out of donating food that I have had a hand in growing or producing, and I have made a lot of great connections with likeminded members of my community in doing this work."
Connor Backes serves as the Garden Manager at Legion Field Community Garden in Oberlin, Ohio. Upon harvest, food grown in the garden is donated to Oberlin Community Services, a local food pantry. In addition to offering a space for members of the community to grow their own produce, the garden also serves as a nature education venue where neighbors come to make new connections.
In his role, Connor has been proud to manage a team of six committed volunteers who each completed regular service hours this growing season. Consisting of four Oberlin College students and two Oberlin High School students, the team made a huge impact under Connor’s direction.
“At roughly a half-acre of growing space, we have so far donated over 100 lbs. of produce to Oberlin Community Services, and the growing season isn’t over,” he says. “I am excited to see how much more food we end up donating after the full fall harvest!”
In addition to leading these volunteers to success, Connor has also implemented new designs for the garden’s layout, eliminating grass rows and increasing available production space by about 50%. Looking ahead to his remaining time in service, he hopes to continue this process in the other grassy parts of the garden, freeing up as much land as possible for growing.
Although the weather presented frequent challenges this summer with abnormal rain and heat, Connor has learned important skills of adjusting to changing conditions.
“There were points when the whole garden was wilting and underwater,” he says. “Despite this, through the help of community members and volunteers, we ended up salvaging this year’s crops and having a successful summer. In going through this, I have learned that adaptability and flexibility are incredibly important when managing a garden.”
Connor’s service has also proved meaningful and motivating to him on a personal level.
“As someone who has experienced food insecurity before, having the ability to directly give back to people who have been in a similar situation as me feels really good,” he says.
Although the learning curve of service was steep and may not be for everyone, Connor has been energized by the challenge of the experience. Being given the opportunity to make an impact in the community, he has derived a sense of fulfillment from his work and is grateful to have been a VISTA member.
Following his term at Legion Field, Connor looks forward to doing a bit of travel. However, beyond that, he is interested in pursuing another position at either a community garden or foodbank.
“I get a lot of joy out of donating food that I have had a hand in growing or producing, and I have made a lot of great connections with likeminded members of my community in doing this work,” he says.
Great work, Connor, and thanks for your service!
