NeighborWorks Week is always a reminder that strong neighborhoods are built through people showing up for one another, and this year was no exception.
At the Ivy Street Community Garden and Greenhouse, many volunteers throughout the week helped us prepare the space for a productive growing season while strengthening connections across our community.
One of the highlights of the week was welcoming a group of Hopkins School seniors, who spent the day working together in the garden and greenhouse. Students helped seed and water plants, transplant mature seedlings, and build hügelkultur mounds (raised growing beds made from logs, branches, leaves, compost, and other low-cost natural materials that improve soil health over time). Along the way, they learned more about food growing, soil building, and the role community gardens can play in neighborhood life.
We were also grateful for volunteers who joined us throughout the week in smaller but equally meaningful ways. Colette Hughes saw our newsletter and decided to come lend a hand. An experienced gardener, she wanted to get involved in New Haven’s community gardens and immediately jumped into the work.
Another special contribution came from longtime partner Rick DelValle, founder of Redemption House, which provides transitional living opportunities for roughly 100 people each night for individuals in early recovery. Rick has partnered with NHS for years and believes deeply in the power of service as part of the recovery journey. During NeighborWorks Week, he volunteered both his time and his tractor, helping move wood chips needed to build the new hügelkultur mounds. He has also brought volunteers to support the garden on other occasions, continuing a partnership that has benefited the broader New Haven community.
Rick DelValle and Colette Hughes
By the end of the week, new growing areas had taken shape, plants were thriving in the greenhouse, and dozens of people had contributed to a shared vision of a healthier, more connected neighborhood.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and showed up to help. We hope that the relationships and community we build continue to grow all year long!
