Evelyn Chen is a community garden facilitator and writer who appreciates and adores nature. She combines hands-on action with creative expression, launching a community garden to combat food difficulties while writing poetry that speaks to hope and resilience.

Interview conducted by VoiceBox's Lauren Louisha

Hey Evelyn, thanks so much for joining us today! We love having you a part of the VoiceBox community, and we really admire all the amazing work you’re doing. Could you start by telling our readers a little about the community projects you’re involved with?

Beyond the garden, I serve as Partnership Coordinator for the Rotaract Club of London (Rotary International’s junior branch for 18–30year olds). In that role, I’ve forged strategic alliances with over 20 local and international organisations and launched city-wide initiatives like our annual Act for Impact Day, which empowers young professionals to drive sustainable social change.

Taking it back right to the beginning of your community garden project, what were the first steps you took to get the ball rolling?

This all began when I was volunteering as a Community Champion with Brent Council. They asked residents for ideas to bring some disused land back to life. I sketched out a plan;  raised beds, compost bays, little winding paths, did a rough budget, and pitched it at a local forum. People were excited, and that early support is what made it all happen.

Can you walk us through how the garden space was chosen? What was the process like to get permission and start transforming it?

The council actually offered us a plot right next to our community centre. They asked for a quick layout and a rough idea of how we’d run it. I sent it over, and they gave us a permanent license soon after. We got the go-ahead to start clearing the space and building straight away.

You mentioned that the community garden was started to help address food insecurity in your area. Have you noticed any positive changes since it began?

We’ve been able to grow loads of fresh produce, about half of it goes straight to families who need it most. We’ve also built up a steady Saturday volunteer group, and I’ve loved seeing neighbours who didn’t even know each other before chatting over a cuppa and swapping planting tips. It’s become a space for connection, not just gardening.

We love that you’ve got a team of volunteers keeping the garden thriving. How do you inspire people who might be new to gardening to take that first step and get involved?

Mostly by telling stories, like how proud we were when we pulled up our first carrots. I’ll just say, “Come by for a cuppa and a trowel,” and that’s usually all it takes. People stick around because we celebrate even the tiniest wins. Every tomato or flower is a reason to cheer.

Have you experienced any setbacks? If so, how did you overcome them?

Definitely, the admin side securing council grants meant filling out lots of forms, chasing responses, and being super patient. I kept things moving with regular updates, check-ins, and even roped in a few friendly councillors to help unlock support when things got stuck.

Alongside your community work, you’re also a writer what first sparked that passion for you, and where do you hope to take it next?

It started back in school when poetry workshops were the first time I realised how powerful words could be. At uni, I picked it back up and started submitting work to competitions. Balancing economics essays with writing poems brought back the joy I’d felt as a kid, and I’ve been writing ever since.

In our initial chat, you mentioned you’re drawn towards Eco Poetry. Can you share an example of how your poetry addresses environmental concerns? 

Of course! Here’s Inherit with Care, which I wrote on July 13, 2023:

Let us dig rows in the soil below,
A safe bed for each seed to grow
Together we pat the earth around
Where roots can burrow, deep and strong

With each day that passes by,
The seedling stretches, reaching high,
Its leaves unfurl, like wings in flight
Amongst soaring swallows in the sky

With every seed, there is a tomorrow
A world of green, a world that’s fair
For generations to inherit with care

It’s about climate care, but also about how we pass things on what kind of world we want to leave behind. It was published in Inherit with Care - Create the Future

Has your community garden inspired any poems?

Yes! Inherit with Care came directly from time spent in the garden. Being surrounded by plants, neighbours, and that rhythm of growth really grounded the poem. For me, writing and gardening often go hand-in-hand.

You mentioned wanting to publish a book focused on the themes of human connection and nature, do you have a specific message you’re wanting to convey through your work?

That nature and human connection go together. When we garden as a group, we’re not just growing vegetables, we're growing a community. If we tend to the soil and each other, we all thrive.

It’s been so lovely chatting with you today and hearing about all the wonderful work you’re doing. Before we go, what’s one small step people can take in their daily lives to help the environment?

Swap your takeaway cup for a reusable mug. It’s not a huge deal, but if everyone did it, we’d save so many cups from the landfill. It’s such a small switch, but it adds up.