Exactly! Gardening Brought Me Closer to My Neighbors

When I first planted my backyard garden in Chicago, I saw it as a private space where I could unwind at the end of a busy day. I imagined quiet mornings, the simple rhythm of watering plants, and the joy of watching vegetables grow from seed to harvest.

What I didn’t expect was how this garden would gently open the door to new friendships, especially with the neighbors living right beside us.

Next to our home is a friendly family. We’d exchanged polite greetings for years – brief waves, quick comments about the weather, or a simple hello when taking out the trash. Shelly, the neighbor I grew closest to, often mentioned in passing that she loved the idea of gardening but never had the time to start.

Between her work schedule and family life, caring for plants never made it to the top of her list. However, everything changed on a morning when I realized I’d started far too many seeds.

The Extra Seedlings That Changed Everything

That spring, I filled my kitchen windowsill with trays of tomatoes, peppers, basil, and mint. I didn’t intend to grow quite so many, but once the seeds sprouted, I couldn’t bring myself to thin any of them out. By the time the weather warmed up, I had more seedlings than garden space.

As I carried the trays outside to harden them off, I saw Shelly tidying up her patio. It felt like the right moment to offer her a few plants, so I walked over and asked if she’d like some extras. She paused for a second, smiled, and said something like, “I’ll try, but you know I’m terrible at keeping plants alive.”

Her honesty made both of us laugh, and she accepted a small tray with a few herbs and two tomato seedlings.

A Few Seedlings Turned Into Regular Conversations

Over the next several weeks, I saw Shelly spending more time in her backyard than she ever had before. She checked her plants in the morning, watered them in the evenings, and sometimes leaned over the fence to ask small questions.

Most of the time they were simple things such as whether the soil looked too dry, whether a leaf color was normal, or how long tomatoes take to ripen.

Our chats were never planned, but they happened so often that they became part of my gardening routine. I’d finish watering my herbs, look up, and there she’d be, telling me her mint was growing faster than she expected or laughing at how her tomato plant suddenly shot up overnight.

Sharing My Harvest for the First Time

By mid-summer, my garden was producing more than I could use. One afternoon I picked a basket of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs, and instead of storing the extras in the fridge, I walked to the fence and offered some to her family.

She wasn’t outside at first, but when she noticed the basket in my hands, she came over quickly, surprised that I had brought something over.

Over the next weeks, this became a small tradition. Whenever my harvest was more than we needed, I set aside a portion for her. In return, she shared little things from her own kitchen such as muffins her kids baked, a jar of something she made for dinner, or a small dish she wanted me to try.

Gardening Turned a Fence Into a Meeting Point

Before gardening connected us, our fence was just a boundary between two backyards. Eventually, it became a place where we paused, talked, laughed, and shared small parts of our daily lives.

We didn’t have long conversations. She told me how the seedlings helped her slow down during stressful days whereas I shared the little wins from my own garden.

You Can Also Share Your Garden With Your Neighbors

Sharing plants or harvests with neighbors doesn’t need to be complicated. Some of the most meaningful moments come from simple gestures. Here are a few gentle ways you can open your garden to the people living around you:

1. Offer your extra seedlings.

Most gardeners start more seeds than they need. Instead of throwing extras away, place them in a small tray and offer them to someone who might enjoy a few easy plants.

2. Share a portion of your harvest

If your garden produces more than your family can eat, set aside a little bowl of vegetables or herbs and leave it on a neighbor’s porch or hand it to them when you see them outside.

3. Give simple, friendly advice if they ask

Many people feel intimidated by gardening. A gentle tip such as water in the morning or move it a little closer to the sun can make a big difference without overwhelming them.

4. Celebrate their wins

If your neighbor successfully grows something you gave them, acknowledge it. People feel proud when something they cared for survives.