Volunteer Spotlight: Guy Lenz

Guy Lenz is ‘the watermelon man’ at Lanier Community Gardens, and InCommunity was lucky enough to get him as a partner in Spring of 2021! Guy helped guide individuals from Unlimited Possibilities Center through the planting, tending, and harvesting of over 600 lbs of produce in the 2021 growing season. Guy stepped into the role of volunteer gardening facilitator not knowing what to expect, but with an open mind to support the individuals’ varying strengths when it came to working the three garden beds that InCommunity would be responsible for.  

Recently-retired, Guy dedicated two days each week to showing the best way to care for the plants, how to fertilize and mulch them so that they would produce the best food. All of the food grown in the beds was donated to the Food Bank, a fact that the individuals were proud to see in action. Guy enjoyed the time spent with the group. He fondly remembers eating LOTS of fresh watermelon, taking on the nickname Papa, and seeing each individual find their role at the garden. In his own words, “One of the best things about working in the garden is that it unifies you – it's a common interest. What’s important is that we are all gardeners. It mutes all the other differences” 

 Guy is already planning for year two with Access Grows – including the planting of even more watermelon 😊