Growing a Beloved Community, One Harvest at a Time

How one neighbor turned her property into a vibrant hub for community care and connection

When Leila McCabe of Oakland, Calif. wanted to find a way to connect more closely with her neighbors, she didn’t have to look far for a solution. McCabe’s home sits on a large double lot, and she had always dreamed of starting a community garden. So McCabe, her husband, and son thought: What better way to build relationships on her block than to turn their property into a thriving garden open to all?

As McCabe looked around the under-used land on her lot, she thought about the recent SNAP cuts, the high cost of food, and the impact these things were having on her friends, neighbors, and family. “I realized I didn’t want to create a small garden just for my household,” she says. “I wanted to do something that could benefit more people.”