(photo: Garden nurtured by board members Randy and Bridget Rau)

On the Community of Gardeners

I have been working with plants and learning about plants for 25-plus years.  I love talking to and informing people about gardening practices and ideas and seeing positive influences for the environment.  Metro Blooms is just an extension of everything I’ve done and learned and want to learn. It always feels like I’m being part of something bigger than me, part of a way of living our lives in a less toxic, smaller-footprint, cleaner way.  Closer to the soil, water, trees, plants and animals. I like being part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Our community is extremely receptive to wanting to “DO SOMETHING!!”  I believe the message is slowly getting through. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture. It’s tough to change people’s minds, but I think passion and commitment will win.

I love looking at what others have done with their gardens, learning the stories, their trials and errors.  I always find something I want to do in my own garden. I am very proud of mine and love showing it off. I love this community, building relationships and spending time with my brother and sister gardeners. We are all part of something we can feel good about.

So please be part of something bigger than yourself. Be part of this great community. Please go to our website to sign up for one of our many workshops  or make a donation. Be part of the solution.

— Randy Rau

On Learning to Leave Earth a Better Place

I don’t think there was ever one “ah-ha” moment for me.  I think I came to a slow realization that I had to leave this Earth a better place or at least not destroy my little corner of it. I worked at a local garden center where I was introduced to gardeners different from ones I had previously known. And most of them were organic gardeners who were talking about natural controls and sustainability. So the more listening and reading I did and the more I worked in my own yard, the more I came to this realization that I needed to be more responsible to my environment.  

I started attending conferences and seminars and planting a few native plants in my yard. It is always interesting to learn about sustainability: what other people are studying; patterns and cycles of insects, bees and such; how what I do affects everything around me; and the impact these gardens have on our communities and the water quality in these communities.

One day I received a note card saying I had been acknowledged  by Metro Blooms and I could pick up my certificate at this thing happening at Kenny School down the block from me. So I went and found it was full of like-minded people! Hurray! Since then I have been to many of the Metro Bloom workshops or talks on resilient gardens, alternative turfs, raingardens (a couple of times) and green roofs. I always learn something new! Would you be interested in checking out our Facebook page or our website to sign up for  a workshop?

— Bridget Rau

Please show your support for Randy and Bridget by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution to Metro Blooms during our Fall Giving Campaign from now through Give to the Max Day on Nov. 15. Donate by clicking the button below:

Thank you!