The Tuesday Gardeners wasn’t the first volunteer group Anita Engberg joined when she moved to Salem in 2013. That was the Willamette Humane Society which she joined just days after moving here. It was 6 months later, in January of 2014, when she learned of the Friends of Bush Gardens through a coworker of her daughter’s. In January, of course, there was no gardening, but there was the weekly Tuesday morning coffee meetup. Anita was in search of activities and new friends. She thought “people who garden seemed like the best possible choice.” Right away, she reached out to the volunteer coordinator and showed up for coffee the next Tuesday!
Anita works in the greenhouse every Tuesday now, but originally worked in the gardens. When I asked what her favorite gardening activity is, she said she likes them all but mentioned weeding. I love to weed too. It does give a great sense of accomplishment.
Anita, an only child, was born in southeast Nebraska and raised on a farm. She says she was her “father’s only son!” She participated in all aspects of farm life accepting the normal cycle of life for farm animals – even beloved ones. After marrying young, she and her husband moved to California. It was a big move, perhaps a bit too big when they realized, after their daughter was born, that “radical” California wasn’t a place to raise a child. Anita says this now with a touch of amusement.
The 1960s and 70s were spent in Nebraska raising 3 children while living on acreage and doing a lot of gardening. They grew edibles and flowers, or as Anita says “body food and soul food.” To tap into her very creative side, she took pottery classes and eventually established her own studio called “The Earthworks.” This allowed her to contribute to the family income while embracing her inner child who never grew out of making mud pies.
The fear of radical California was overcome and in 1989 Anita moved to the Santa Rosa, CA area to be with her second husband, Dean, a renowned international folk dance teacher. They were out dancing several nights every week. After Dean passed, Anita lived in Montana for three years to be near family. She doesn’t remember a single day that wasn’t windy. Then five more years back in California until moving to Salem in 2013, again to be near family.
She bought a house in southeast Salem with a complete blank slate of a yard. Now she loses count when she tries to count her trees. She grows fruit and veggies and gorgeous flowers. She’s created a magical spot of meandering footpaths in a very colorful and verdant canvas.
Beyond nurturing plants and animals, Anita is a very generous and caring soul towards people too. In my own experience with Mission Street Parks Conservancy, I’ve learned to appreciate Anita’s insight: gardeners really are the most wonderful people. As a parting glimpse into who Anita is, I pass along her favorite quote. “If you have 2 loaves of bread, give one to the poor, sell the other, and buy hyacinths to feed your soul.”
Written by Emily Standish