Nancy Hicks MarshallNancy Hicks Marshall grew up on Long Island, New York. Her father always planted an organic vegetable garden, from the "Victory Gardens" of World War II until his very later years. Moving to Phoenix in 1975, Nancy started a vegetable garden, finding he seasons and conditions dramatically different than that of the Northeast.First, it is possible in Phoenix to plant in the fall (early October is good) and again in the winter (January, February), but it is difficult to grow much during the summer months. Second, in the dry climate there is not much natural decomposition, so it's important to add compost and other mulch to enrich and replenish the soil.Nancy has had the opportunity to volunteer in two community gardens in South Phoenix. The science of planting, weeding mulching, and irrigating is an ongoing challenge for all the gardeners and farmers. In addition, when numerous individual persons and organizations come together to try and make such a garden work on an ongoing basis, we humans face all kinds of challenges. Two main benefits of working in a community garden are that we both produce healthy food for families, and we develop vital skills and productivity.We hope FINDING ZACHARIAH has allowed you to capture some of the spirit of what is possible in a community garden. Read More Read Less