Watching the Garden Grow - Meet HPNC Gardener Kirsten Akre

by Linda Unger

Is there anything more hopeful than a garden? Taking a walk in early spring while there’s still some ice on the ground but the crocus are breaking through to begin their march to flowers? Or late summer where we are now, with the 10-foot sun flowers basking in the rays, ripe tomatoes ready for picking and adding to salad with herbs from the garden?

HPNC is all in on gardening and much of its success is due to the efforts of master gardener, Kirsten Akre, and the devoted garden committee who worked tirelessly to dramatically improve the gardens this year, bringing the beauty of flowers and the scent of herbs and vegetables alongside the ongoing construction toward the exciting new future for the club.

Not everyone who lives in Chicago enjoys being outdoors through all four seasons, but Kirsten does. She spent most of her childhood in Montana outdoors, gardening with her Mom, inspired by her Grandmother’s garden, and her Grandfather’s love of soil. Unsurprisingly, her love of gardening and the outdoors caused her to be concerned about environmental issues and in college, she co-led the Environmental Concerns Organization, and continued to work with gardens.

Kirsten is passionate about connecting people to nature and food through gardens and building these gardens together. Every garden can make a difference in the world. It is food for us and the wildlife surrounding us.

In fact, Kirsten’s entire career has been spent building public gardens on vacant lots, parks, and schools. And what a positive effect it has on children to help take care of a garden. Imagine instead of scrolling on their phones, they learn to water and care for plants, they learn what they can eat and what they cannot. As the children connect with the garden, one can see a growing respect for their play space around them. If the space is filled with the beauty of a garden, we all feel better. As Kirsten says, “it doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs to be tended and loved.” Seeing children eating fresh asparagus in spring, chives, tomatoes and cucumbers in summer is a true delight.

Kirsten had worked at Little Inspirations at HPNC some years back, but left to work for three years at a Waldorf School. Upon her return she knew she’d made the right move coming back. First she was greeted by 3 hummingbirds, nature welcoming her back. Then by a former Little Inspirations teacher who told her the garden was a healing space for her. Finally, she was recognized by former Little Inspiration students attending HPNC's after school program as the garden lady. A warm welcome back indeed.

This summer, the gardens at HPNC have flourished. The sunflowers planted early this spring by Little Inspiration students tower overhead and are blooming. The wildflower seeds planted in the winter in milk jugs and left in front to sprout, have created a new flower garden in front of the center. Every container they could find is planted with herbs and vegetables tended by all the children who use the center. Little Inspiration students, summer camp students, Tot Lot and Nature Club families, are all a part of the garden this summer.

HPNC is so grateful to Kirsten, the entire HPNC Garden Committee, and community members who donated many of the plants that have thrived this season in their new homes. The Garden Committee has organized workdays to help in tending the garden. There is one more workday to help with the garden this fall, Saturday, October 18 from 10 - noon. Everyone is invited to help. Many hands make light work. It feels good to be a part of growing healthy food, and beautiful flowers surrounding the play spaces for the youngest members of our community.

Come join us!