Our 2026 Gardener Introductory Meeting:

A Great Start to the Season

There is something fitting about starting a gardening season outdoors. That is exactly what we did this past Saturday at the Benson Community Garden, when we gathered for our annual Gardener Introductory Meeting. It was a cool morning, but the sun came out and warmed things up just enough to make it feel like the season had officially begun.

The Benson Community Garden is a neighborhood community garden located at 1302 N 60th Street in Omaha. Now in our 15th year, the garden is home to 33 individual plots tended by a mix of longtime gardeners and people just getting started. Every spring we hold this gathering to bring everyone together before the growing season begins.

We opened the way we always do, by going around the group and having each person share their name, how many years they have gardened here, and what they are most looking forward to growing. It is one of our favorite parts of the morning. You hear everything from first-time gardeners figuring things out as they go, to veterans with years of experience and deeply held opinions about tomato varieties. That mix of people is what makes this place worth showing up for.

From there we covered the practical side of how the garden runs. Water access, tools, compost, trash and recycling, and how we open and close the gates each day. The garden operates as a shared space, and everyone takes on a small weekly task in the common areas. It usually amounts to no more than 5 to 15 minutes per week, but those small efforts add up to a well-kept garden for the whole community.

Rocky demonstrating how to properly behave in the community garden.

We also covered a few specific guidelines for the season. Dogs are welcome in the garden but must stay on a leash and be kept away from other people’s plots. Sunflowers are not permitted in individual plots this year because they can grow well past our 5-foot height limit and create real problems for neighboring gardeners. And if the water tank is running low, gardeners are asked to text Kurt directly so it can be refilled before it becomes an issue.

Some of the most exciting conversation centered on what is new in 2026.

The Education Garden is taking shape at the east end of the property. It will feature a rotating mix of plantings, each with a QR code that links visitors to information about what is growing and how to grow it. The goal is to make the space useful not just for our members but for anyone in the neighborhood who wants to learn more about growing their own food. We are currently applying for support from the Omaha Community Foundation to help fund the project.

A new 12 by 10 foot shed and workshop is also under construction on the west side of the garden. The existing shed is too small to be practical, and this new space will give us room to store tools, equipment, and supplies properly. Kurt is personally funding the build, and donations of materials or volunteer labor are still welcome. Details are on our website (CLICK HERE).

We also talked through an exciting lineup of community events planned for the season. Local artist Julia McGuigan is bringing an art class to the garden, and we are planning a concert, a movie night, and a series of gardening education talks. This is our 15th anniversary year, and we want to mark it with gatherings that bring the broader neighborhood in, not just our members. If you have an idea for an event or want to help organize something, we would love to hear from you.

2026 BCG Events

  • May: BCG 15th Anniversary & Reunion
  • June: Concert – any ideas who could perform?
  • July: Garden Barbecue Potluck (for gardeners and their families/friends
  • Aug: Pop-Up Urban Farmers Market
  • Sept: Movie Under the Stars Night – Movie Ideas?
  • Oct: Trick-or-Treat in the Garden

One item that got people talking was the announcement of new BCG t-shirts. We are designing a new 15th-anniversary shirt for members, with a version available to the general public. More details on that soon.

And looking a little further ahead, we shared early plans for Villa Terra, a broader community sustainability project connected to the garden. We are hopeful that construction could begin in 2027, and we will share more as those plans develop.

The Benson Community Garden is open to visitors throughout the growing season. If you are curious about joining, volunteering, or just stopping by to see what we are up to, reach out at bensongardens.org or text Kurt at 402-714-0290.

We are looking forward to a good season and glad to have this community growing with us.