Carlsbad Library Cultivates Community with New Garden Project

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

The Carlsbad Public Library is branching out—literally.

What began as an idea for a makerspace has blossomed into plans for a community garden behind the library, with Director Sara Jones hoping to sow seeds of collaboration, education, and fresh produce for those willing to toil a bit at harvest time.

The garden project, initially envisioned as a later phase of the library’s community initiatives, “kind of flip-flopped” into motion sooner than expected, Jones said. Conversations with local organizations—including with Sandy Wilke of the Carlsbad Conservation Soil and Water District—sparked momentum. The library coordinates a lot of children’s programming and has secured some grant funding that has helped accelerate the plan.

“Gardening was always on our radar,” Jones said, recalling early discussions about a potential community kitchen or garden nearly five years ago. “But at a certain point, things just took off.”

Though Jones jokes about her “black thumb” (“I’ve never been a skilled gardener”), her enthusiasm is sincere. Growing up, she remembers helping neighbors water their garden while they were away on vacation. “Seeing how big everything got, then getting to harvest it, take it home, and cut it to make something yummy was incredible,” she said.

By being a good neighbor, she found herself participating in one of the fundamental chores that make us truly human. “I love people growing things together, sharing skills, and feeding each other.”

In a day and age when more and more time is spent online for work and fun, there are fewer reasons for kids to be outdoors and fewer opportunities for them to experience the kind of epiphany described in Jones’ story. The appearance of a community garden and all of the potential it will have to support more human stories like hers brings into sharp focus its importance.

Locals can look forward to creating memories together of harvesting freshly ripened fruits and veggies picked straight from the vine or tree. Friends and neighbors will enjoy the textures and flavors of the garden’s goodies still warm from the sun.

Partnerships in Bloom

The library aims to make the garden a true collaborative effort. Local schools will kickstart the project using hydroponic units, nurturing seedlings indoors before transplanting them to the garden beds. “Starting with sprouts instead of seeds should help them survive better outside,” Jones explained.

Partnerships don’t stop there. If possible, the library hopes to involve homeschool groups, 4-H, FFA, and even nearby Southeast New Mexico College, which recently launched its own student-maintained garden. “We’ve already worked with the college on our seed library events,” Jones said. “We’d love to support each other’s projects.”

Cultivating Excitement

While the library hasn’t widely publicized the garden yet, Jones is optimistic about the response. Other local organizations have launched similar projects, and demand seems high. “One of the senior centers has a gentleman who’s been bugging them for a garden,” she laughed. “There’s definitely interest in town.”

For Jones, the garden’s greatest harvest won’t just be vegetables—it’ll be life lessons. She hopes young participants learn that “hard work and weeding can turn up something beautiful, like a watermelon or cantaloupe, to feed the community.”

Digging In

With plans still taking root, the library welcomes volunteers and partner organizations. A formal announcement is expected soon, but Jones teased potential events, like workshops or harvest celebrations, to engage community members of all ages.

Libraries aren’t just about books anymore. They’re about creating spaces where people can learn, grow, and—apparently—get their hands dirty. They’re about making friends and sharing in a tradition that goes back to our common origins and sparked the very dawn of civilization.