One Small Garden is a non-profit organization dedicated to the building
of gardens for charity using sustainable, earth-friendly, and organic
methods and materials. We utilize a core group of volunteers as well as
local members of the community to take ownership of the gardens and
foster community involvement. We also promote volunteerism by
encouraging all who volunteer with OSG to Volunteer in other community
projects.
OSG was created as a way to continue stewardship of
The Elanor Garden, a children's reading garden built in April 2003
for the Riggs Institute in Beaverton, OR. The garden was created in
homage to J.R.R. Tolkien's literary character Sam Gamgee, and the
ideals he represents.
Sean Astin, (who played Samwise Gamgee in
The
Lord of the Rings trilogy, and also starred in
Rudy and
The
Goonies) was a volunteer and a key element to the success of
Project Elanor.
The original project was started by a fledgling organization which soon
dissolved and left the garden with no caretaker. Many of the volunteers
from the original crew determined they would continue caring for 'our
little Elanor.' Over that first year, we watched the fruits of our
labors develop
into a charming community resource, used and enjoyed for many purposes
and bringing
neighbors together. We never fail to hear how the garden has
blessed those in the area.
We opened our eyes, looked around, and saw
communities and charities that would benefit from similar gardens. We
saw
opportunities to make a difference. We thought to ourselves: There is
so much need...why stop at Elanor? After all, the literary character of
Sam Gamgee had 13 children...why not 13 gardens? Why not even more?
Thus began the journey of a small group of volunteers to create
the organization we now affectionately refer to as OSG.
