Gardener Spotlight: Paula Bosak & Jon Gulden (Plot 28)

Some people find a community garden because they want to grow vegetables. Others find it because they're looking for a little more connection to their neighborhood. For Paula Bosak and Jon Gulden, Maxwell Street Community Garden has become both.

John Gulden (left) and Paula Bosak (right)

Although they're relatively new members, they're already regulars, stopping by almost every day to check on their plot, catch up with fellow gardeners, and see what's changed since their last visit.

Paula is a proud South Sider, having grown up in Chicago's West Beverly neighborhood before earning her degree from Purdue University. After spending more than 15 years in Hyde Park, she now calls the South Loop home. Jon's journey to Chicago started a little farther east. A New Jersey native and Rutgers graduate, he came to the city more than 25 years ago to attend law school at John Marshall University—and, as they say, the rest is history. Chicago won him over, and he never looked back.

The two were married two years ago in Sedona, Arizona, and together they serve Cook County in careers dedicated to public service. Paula works as a Juvenile Probation Officer, while Jon is an attorney with the Cook County Public Defender's Office. Retirement is on the horizon next year, with plans to begin their next adventure in Denver, Colorado.

When they're not tending their garden, you'll likely find them walking along the lakefront or Riverwalk, exploring new restaurants, catching live music or a theater performance, traveling, or—if you're with Jon—keeping up with one of his beloved sports teams. As a devoted fan of the Mets, Jets, Rangers, and Liverpool FC, he's learned that loyalty sometimes comes with a healthy dose of patience.

Fortunately, patience has become a recurring theme in the garden as well.

Paula has loved gardening for years, though most of her experience came from growing flowers on her balcony. Her passion started much earlier, helping her mother tend a vegetable garden while growing up. This spring, a coworker and fellow gardener, Robin, couldn't stop talking about her experience at Maxwell Street Community Garden and encouraged Paula to apply for a plot.

That recommendation has turned into one of the highlights of their year.

Plot 28: John and Paula's Garden Bed

Together they're growing tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, carrots, beets, peppers, herbs, and flowers. Earlier in the season they enjoyed fresh lettuce and radishes, while tomatoes have offered an education in pruning—and a reminder that good things take time. They're finally seeing fruit develop, making every lesson worthwhile.

Of course, few moments compare to harvesting those first vegetables.

Picking their first cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, and radishes was incredibly rewarding, and they're excited to continue sharing their harvest with friends, neighbors, and the community throughout the season.

Beyond the vegetables, it's the atmosphere that has made the biggest impression.

"The garden is so peaceful in the morning," Paula shared, "and it's fun to talk to everyone in the afternoon and on weekends."

They've found the Maxwell Street community to be welcoming, knowledgeable, and always willing to lend a hand. Whether it's sharing gardening advice or working together to keep the grounds beautiful, the sense of teamwork has made them feel right at home.

And then there are the bees.

Paula has become fascinated by the garden's beehives and enjoys watching the pollinators at work... right up until one mistakes her hair for a potential nesting site. Thankfully, no bees have moved in permanently, but they've certainly added a little excitement to her gardening adventures.

As first-year gardeners, Paula and Jon say they're continually impressed by how well organized and thoughtfully managed the garden is. They look forward to each visit, eager to see what's growing, catch up with fellow gardeners, and discover what the next week will bring.

With plenty of tomatoes still ripening, new friendships taking root, and retirement adventures waiting just around the corner, one thing is certain: this season is only the beginning of their Maxwell Street Community Garden story.