I was walking down State Street on my way to school this morning, when I saw Port of Olympia employees landscaping in the empty lot, which once contained the May Day Community Garden. I asked one of them why the garden had disappeared. He smiled and said it was the orders of the Port, he suggested I call them to complain. He recalled when there was a big garden in that location a few years earlier, according to him it was a place where "all sorts of people, of every age would come and garden."
The Mayday garden was planted this year as part of Olympia's annual May Day celebration. I have been watching it grow over the last few weeks, it has been kept up by volunteers who have been bringing it water, making sure it stays clean and just enjoying it. On the street across form the now defunct garden, was parked a semi carrying a load of tree's; killed and ready for export. Some Olympians have called for a "peace-port" to oppose Olympia's support for U.S. Imperialism. That would be a good thing. However, the port is engaged in a war at home as well as abroad. One small garden may not seem like a big deal, and it's not. But it doesn't stop there. I live close to downtown and see log's driven past my house every week.
The old garden from years ago had flowers, which had survived over time. They return on the mounds of dirt in the spring, today the port took a weed-whacker to them too. I'm sure the flowers will be back. And so will we.
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