Summerlong Gardens: Growing Community Through Nature

— Heather Minors

In the rural landscapes of North Durham, where winding country roads meet forests, fields, and shorelines, Summerlong Gardens is cultivating more than beautiful outdoor spaces. The queer-owned garden design and care company, led by CA and Jenna, is helping people reconnect with nature, community, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Summerlong Gardens offers thoughtful, environmentally responsible garden care and design focused on creating thriving outdoor spaces that support biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and all-season beauty. Their work blends ecological stewardship with intentional design, resulting in gardens that feel both grounded in nature and deeply personal.

For CA, the journey toward building Summerlong Gardens began long before the business itself existed.

“After college, I spent more time on the neglected rooftop patio at my first office job than at my desk,” CA recalls. Drawn toward what they describe as “a wilder path,” they left that career behind to study horticulture and spent years learning from growers, farmers, gardeners, and designers across North America.

A decade later, meeting Jenna helped shape Summerlong Gardens into what it is today.

“Her leadership, positivity, and growth mindset helped shape Summerlong into a manifestation of our hard work ethic and a reflection of us growing together,” says CA.

Their connection to the natural world started early. CA credits their mother as their first gardening mentor, remembering the “traffic stopping home gardens” and homegrown vegetables that sparked a lifelong love of plants and flowers. Jenna’s inspiration came from time spent outdoors observing wildlife and ecosystems.

“I grow for the pollinators and the birds,” Jenna says. “Observing nature as a whole system inspires my passion for nurturing gardens.”

That understanding of interconnected systems now forms the foundation of Summerlong Gardens’ philosophy. Their designs prioritize
native and keystone plant species that provide habitat and food for pollinators, birds, and wildlife while balancing ecological function with strong visual form.

“The result is often a little wild, but always with purpose,” they explain.

Their approach to landscaping extends far beyond aesthetics. For CA and Jenna, outdoor spaces have the power to shape how people feel, gather, and connect.

“Our work starts with listening closely to how people want to live, gather, rest, and connect with the land around them,” they say.

That philosophy naturally extends to community and identity as well.

“Landscapes have the power to strengthen our relationship with nature and deepen our sense of place, while also teaching us about biodiversity and the importance of healthy, interconnected ecosystems. That understanding naturally extends to people too: just as diverse landscapes are stronger and more resilient, human communities thrive when diversity is respected and celebrated. Creating inclusive spaces means recognizing and welcoming everyone, including LGBTQ communities, so people can feel a true sense of belonging both in nature and in their everyday environments.”

This philosophy is one they see reflected clearly in Pride celebrations across North Durham — spaces where visibility, joy, and belonging are not only welcomed, but centred. For them, Pride is both personal and communal: a reminder that queer people are part of the fabric of rural life, and that thriving communities are built through care, inclusion, and shared presence.

As openly queer business owners in a rural community, CA and Jenna understand both the challenges and the importance of visibility.

“We proudly represent ourselves as openly queer on our website and in our work,” they say. “We understand the realities and risks that exist for marginalized people in rural communities, and have experienced misogyny and homophobia ourselves.”

Rather than compromising their values, they intentionally built a network of clients, collaborators, suppliers, and community connections rooted in respect, safety, and mutual support.

One of the greatest surprises, they say, has been discovering a thriving queer community in North Durham.

“We both grew up in rural communities where we often felt unsafe and unseen, and each of us moved to the city in search of queer community and joy,” they explain. “Returning to the country as adults, one of our greatest surprises has been discovering that same sense of belonging here through North Durham Pride.”

“There is a vibrant, supportive, and joyful queer community right here on our doorstep.”

That sense of connection and restoration is also reflected in the gardens they create. For CA and Jenna, gardens are never static spaces. They are living relationships between people, plants, wildlife, and place.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that gardening is about quick results or maintaining total control over nature,” they explain. “In reality, landscape stewardship is a long-term relationship.”

Their work encourages people to embrace biodiversity, ecological balance, and the beauty of working with nature rather than against it.

The couple also believes outdoor spaces can play an important role in supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing.

“There is science to prove that spending time in nature has a measurable positive impact on mental health,” they say. “Gardens and outdoor spaces can create a sense of calm, connection, and belonging by giving people places to slow down, reflect, and gather with others.”

Outside of work, CA and Jenna can often be found enjoying the natural beauty and local culture of North Durham through hikes in Durham Regional Forest, birding along Lake Scugog, swimming in Lake Simcoe, exploring the Port Perry Farmers’ Market, or attending North Durham Pride celebrations in Palmer Park.

They also hope queer people considering a move to the region know they are not alone.

“We would love queer folks visiting or moving to North Durham to know that we are here,” they say, “thriving and surviving, holding dear and growing stronger our 2SLGBTQIA+ community across a vast patchwork of farms, forests, and towns.”

Looking ahead, Summerlong Gardens hopes to continue expanding its focus on ecological design, environmental landscaping consultation, alternative lawns, and land restoration.

“Our goal is to contribute to a greener, healthier local ecosystem while helping people create beautiful outdoor spaces,” they say. “Ultimately, we want to help grow more resilient, connected, thriving communities over time.”

In many ways, that vision mirrors the spirit of North Durham Pride itself: rooted in care, resilience, visibility, and growth. Through every pollinator garden, restored landscape, and welcoming outdoor space they create, Summerlong Gardens is helping cultivate a community where both people and nature can flourish together.