Growing Community At Garden Storytime

Jessica Tessler sets aside her ukelele and brings out the first book for storytime. Small faces look up in wonder and anticipation as she reads the first sentences.

“In winter when it snows, my mother grows a garden,” Tesla reads. “How does she grow a garden in the snow?

The stories and songs may feel like a library’s usual storytime, but the subject and location of this one are unique. This is Garden Storytime at the North Austin Community Garden. Tessler, the youth librarian at the Little Walnut Creek Branch Library, hosts it once a month. The goal is to connect families with the garden and introduce children to a community green space.

“A lot of the families in this neighborhood live in apartments and don't have as much access to gardens and yards and nature learning as maybe some other neighborhoods,” Tessler says. “So I really wanted to encourage that.”

Jessica Tessler (right) reads to families during Garden Storytime.

According to U.S. Census data, roughly 70% of Rundberg residents live in rental units, compared to just over 56% for the entire City of Austin. Studies have shown that people living in apartments generally have less access to green spaces. That can impact people’s mental health, increasing stress, anxiety and depression. Tessler wanted to connect families with public green spaces. Fortunately, one was right across the street.

“She just asked us, ‘can you open the garden for us?’” says Meredith Loewen, the communications coordinator for the North Austin Community Garden. “And I was like, ‘yeah, of course!’”

While Tessler wanted to connect families with green spaces, the NACG was looking to connect with families.

“The idea of a community garden is you all come together and you share with the community, and we want to do a lot more of that,” Loewen says.

Members of the North Austin Community Garden work on raised beds with Texas State University students.

Garden Storytime often kicks off with a song–this Saturday, it’s about chopping salad. Then Tessler will read one to two garden-related stories before leading the kids through a STEM activity. After that, families are encouraged to explore the garden and meet with members. Sometimes children get to sample items that are in season or pull carrots out of the ground. Loewen says she loves getting to see the families enjoy the green spaces.

“Being out in nature can be so healing,” Loewen says. “By the time they're leaving, they just have the biggest smile on their face.”

This was the first Garden Storytime that Jenny Thielen had brought her daughter to. She says they had seen the community garden when driving around, and had been curious about it. Garden Storytime seemed like a perfect opportunity.

“I thought it would be fun for her to learn about nature,” Thielen says. “It's a great opportunity to meet other families and kids in the same age group. And it's a great way for the kids to learn.”

A child holds up a spinach leaf.

Tessler hopes children walk away learning more about their local green spaces, but also more about their neighbors.

“I want to build community among families in this neighborhood,” Tessler says. “And just to appreciate nature in their own backyards, wherever their backyards will be.”