CRISFIELD — Volunteers who restored the raised beds and maintain the vegetable and flower garden next to City Hall formally dedicated the Crisfield Community Garden last month to the memory of Doug Swift.

At the end of the program one of the two pallet fences facing West Main Street was revealed and one of the posts features an image of Mr. Swift, who passed away June 28 at age 64.

As City Councilwoman LaVerne Johnson said, you can say Doug loved Crisfield, but “Crisfield loved Doug.”

The garden was originally created through a federal grant program awarded in 2016 to Somos Inc., a local nonprofit. The goal of the “Local Foods Local Places” initiative was to bring healthy food to the community and drive economic development.

One of those participants in the program at that time Shawna Kearsley said the garden’s location across from Dollar General where so many people buy food is especially appropriate. The garden was intended to provide fresh food at the Bayside Harvest Market downtown in another vacant lot, since sold, and now used for a mobile snowball stand.

As the energy waned in maintaining the uptown garden, the Rev. Emanuel Johnson — who was assigned to Shiloh United Methodist Church in July 2021 — noticed it was untended and was directed to various volunteers to jump start its rebirth.

“It’s a wonderful change,” he said, “a showplace” that’s far better than seeing an abandoned space. And volunteer Cindy Freeman said all of it “was done in four months.”

Mrs. Freeman described the cooperation the gardeners have received, whether it be seeds from Somerset County Technical High School to donations of apple trees, and even “Buddy Benches” where someone can sit as a signal that they need some company.

She said when she posts a need on the Facebook page titled “Doug Swift’s Crisfield Community Garden” inevitably someone responds.

“There’s been so much support from the community,” she said, and some reach out on their own asking how they can help.

Those who are found in the garden range from native Crisfielders to newcomers from out-of-state, those from Somerset Community Service, and students of all ages. It is hoped there will be more activities in the garden — and the addition of a sensory garden — which is enhanced by a book sharing program inside a trailer provided by Lemonade Bookstand of Salisbury.

Susan Finlayson, who once taught in Woodson Elementary School, said the bookstand offers “bibliotherapy” especially for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities.

There are long-term plans to expand garden offerings so apartment dwellers can get involved with a plot of their own for a small fee. Mrs. Freeman also said more benches are planned, and it is hoped that someday the city will allow a mural to be painted on the back of its public works building which faces the garden.

Vegetables are free to the community whether picked directly from the garden or when there is a large harvest given away at the Farmer’s Market downtown on Saturday.

“This is the Crisfield I grew up in,” said Mayor Darlene Taylor, the community-spirited Crisfield “that I know and love.” “My prayers are that this will continue.”

Doug Swift’s sister Gayle Dorman said her brother loved this town and she is in awe of the outpouring of support for the family. Always there to help, the illness he suffered as a child that slowed him physically and cognitively did not shutdown his love for people and the community.

Mrs. Dorman said her brother was very kind, and while he could get mad, “He didn’t hold a grudge.”

As part of the program Ms. Kearsley read some trivia questions with one asking the favorite places Doug liked to be — with the firehall at the top of the list.

Doug was made an honorary member of the fire department just prior to his death and was laid to rest at Sunnyride Memorial Park wearing the Crisfield Fire Department’s dress uniform. His obituary described him as a “Town Icon” because he knew and loved everybody and was always there to lend a helping hand.

“The purpose of life is not to make a living but to make a life,” Ms. Kearsley said, and the revitalization of the garden and its dedication to Doug’s giving spirit fulfills “the mission that was intended.”