Bridal Veil, a community garden changes the urban neighborhood

MINNEAPOLIS- During the summer harvest season at Bridal Veil Gardens, first-time growers and community members enjoy the garden and fresh produce directly from the garden plots.

According to community garden program coordinator Becca Gross, the garden has 51 beds total. Thirty-eight are used by individual gardeners while 13 are shared and open to harvesting by anyone in the community.

“Most people in the immediate neighborhood live in apartments/condos without their own yard,” Gross said in an email statement. “That makes the space ideal for community gardens. It allows people to have access to land and fresh produce.”

People who want to have a plot in the garden need to go through an application process each year. The application for a plot in 2024 opens in September.

Selam Berhea, a first-time gardener at Bridal Veil Gardens, said she felt pretty lucky with her first year growing at the community site.

Berhea said she has always been interested in growing her own food. But because she lives in an apartment right now, she doesn’t have a garden.

“I also love cooking, so it’s nice that I can use stuff that I grew myself. It is a very satisfying feeling,” Berhea said.

Berhea grows cherry tomatoes, chili peppers, bell peppers, kale, onions, mint, basil, lemongrass and zucchini. She also just planted some winter squash.

“I feel like everything's been going pretty well,” Berhea said. “I've been able to use my tomatoes, my peppers and my onions.”

Grace Kresge used to have a garden in the suburbs before moving to the Link, an apartment complex across the street from Bridal Veil Gardens. She now visits the all-can-pick plots once a week.

Kresge said it's really nice for her to still have a little bit of gardening experience even if she is living in an apartment and doesn't have a plot.

“I just think it's nice to come and see how the plants are developing over the season,” Kresge said. “This year the gardens are a lot more impressive.”

The garden is also an open place for education and people to play and relax.

Sam Gouzdez, a maintenance worker at the University of Minnesota, said he comes to the garden for a few minutes when he is on break.

“This is really beautiful and I like it,” Gouzdez said. “Me and my father, we used to do this. So this reminds me of my old days.”