Community Garden in Boise

I had heard of community gardens before, but had no idea that there was one in Boise. This morning I joined in with other Boise State students/staff to weed the common areas and the rows between the garden plots of a community garden located near the Jewish Synagogue in Boise. When we arrived at the garden, the coordinator explained that the garden is maintained & harvested by several refugees who live near the synagogue. We were able to look through a notebook that included pictures and information on the refugee families we were helping. I learned that the garden is significant for several reasons. One main reason is that it helps the refugees provide food for their families. Another reason is the religious significance - that the majority of the refugees are Muslim, and they are gardening on land provided by Boise Jews. In a time where Muslims and Jews across the world are in discord, it is neat that these two groups in Boise can work together in peace. We weeded for three hours in the hot August sun, but it was so rewarding to see the fruits of our labor and to know that we helped those in need.