Poem written by Cleveland Public School gardening program participant Joanne (Lhotsky) Cornelius, who had her own vegetable garden at Benjamin Franklin School tract garden as a child. "I wrote this some time ago reflecting back on my community gardening experience as a youth. I realize now more than ever what a salvation the program was for me and certainly other (especially poor) young Clevelanders at the time. It's clear to me that it was the structure of the program itself that provided a real 'grounding' place for many like myself, a shy young girl growing up in a chaotic home with a near dozen other family members....!" --author
