A nurturer of gardens and of people, Betty Fleming got into urban gardening in 1974. Wistful for the South Carolina farm she had left in 1959, Betty asked the caretaker at 81 Chestnut Avenue in Trenton, where she and her family lived, if she could plant a small garden. With his permission, she got started.
Betty expanded the garden each year, sharing the produce with the caretaker and her neighbors. In 1981 she contacted Isles for help in cleaning up the rest of the property. After old cars and tires were removed, community members prepared the soil and came up with the name “The Garden of Three Points,” because the gardeners came from three avenues.
Working alongside one other, African Americans, Latinos and Asians together created a garden whose unique vegetables reflected the gardeners’ diverse cultures. Betty became the head gardener about 10 years ago, and works with about eight to ten community gardeners. They share the produce among themselves and with other members of the community, particularly the elderly. Not only do the gardeners feel great pride and community spirit as they beautify their neighborhood, but they have also developed a greater tolerance and understanding of each others’ cultures.
Located near a train station, the garden regularly garners attention from commuters who stop by to admire it. In 2008, the group added a children’s flower and vegetable garden, which is providing neighborhood children with a valuable educational experience.
Betty joined Isles’ Board of Trustees for a second term in 2008.