Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
A different type of garden is taking root behind the TileWorks building in Doylestown; one built not just on soil and sunlight, but on kindness, generosity, and a belief in community support.
The TileWorks Peace Garden, established in 2020 by Doylestown resident Melissa “Mesa” Matarese, offers free, organic produce for anyone who needs it. There are no fees, no membership requirements, and no expectations in return, just an open invitation to take what you need and, if you’re able, give back in whatever way feels right.
“The inspiration was really an act of peaceful rebellion,” Matarese said. “Having a space where there was completely free food; that’s kind of unheard of. There’s no buy-in, no loophole. It’s just a place to go when you need some food.”
That idea took shape during the early days of the pandemic, when uncertainty and isolation led Matarese to look for a meaningful way to support others. At the time, she had already been installing small, four-by-four organic peace gardens in people’s backyards, helping them reconnect with nature and become a bit more self-sufficient while spending more time at home. But she wanted to expand that idea into something larger, something that could bring people together once the world began to reopen.
The result was the Peace Garden, a space designed not only to grow food, but to cultivate connection. Today, the garden produces a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, and kale. Grown using organic and regenerative practices, the harvest is available throughout the summer, and fall months, offering fresh, nutritious food at no cost.
At a time when grocery prices continue to rise,particularly for organic options, the garden fills an important gap for individuals and families who may be struggling.
“Getting free organic produce seems too good to be true,” Matarese said. “But it’s true.”
The Peace Garden operates entirely through the support of the community. Seedlings are donated by local growers, including Blooming Glen Farm, while materials like mushroom compost are provided by local partners such as Sparks Industries. Volunteers handle everything from planting and watering to weeding and harvesting, making the garden a shared effort in the truest sense.
Matarese, an artist, potter, and owner of Mesa Lifestyle, first connected with TileWorks as a college intern, where she developed her love for clay and the site’s natural surroundings.
Matarese works closely with James Mowry, Site Manager at the TileWorks, who has been hands-on in maintaining the space since its early days. Executive Director Katia McGuirk has also played a key role, offering support and helping integrate the garden into the broader TileWorks environment.
From its modest beginnings with just three small garden beds, the Peace Garden has grown to roughly three times its original size. With each passing year, it continues to expand, fueled by the dedication of volunteers and the steady belief that something good can grow when people come together.
But the garden is about more than food. It is also a place of learning. During “Workerbee Days,” as Matarese as coined these volunteer community cleanups and plantings, participants don’t just lend a hand; they gain insight into the principles behind the garden’s success.
Matarese teaches as she works, explaining everything from soil health and companion planting to the role of pollinators. Flowers are intentionally planted among the vegetables, attracting beneficial insects that support growth and help keep pests in check. The goal is to empower people with knowledge they can carry into their own lives, whether that means starting a garden at home or simply gaining a deeper appreciation for where their food comes from.
The setting itself adds to the experience. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the TileWorks grounds, the garden offers a peaceful retreat, a place where visitors can slow down, reconnect with nature, and spend time in a space designed for both nourishment and reflection.
For those interested in visiting, you can find the garden from the main TileWorks parking lot (not the Fonthill side). Simply walk around the back of the building toward the bathroom structure and follow the path directly behind it. The Peace Garden sits just beyond, open and welcoming to all.
Looking ahead, the garden’s organizers hope to continue expanding both its physical footprint and its impact. One current initiative, the Wild Bricks fundraiser, invites community members to purchase and decorate hexagonal bricks made from locally sourced clay. These bricks will be used to create pathways and gathering spaces within the garden, allowing supporters to quite literally leave their mark.
Funds raised will also help support the construction of a dedicated garden shed, an important step toward making the garden more self-sufficient by providing a permanent place to store tools and equipment.
Despite its growth, one of the biggest hurdles the Peace Garden faces is not land or labor; it’s perception. Many people, Matarese has found, struggle to believe that something like this can exist without a catch. The idea of free, organic food, grown and shared purely out of kindness, can feel almost too good to be real.
For Matarese, that skepticism is exactly why spreading awareness matters.
At its core, the Peace Garden is about more than vegetables. It’s about creating a space where generosity is tangible, where people can support one another without expectation, and where small acts of kindness can ripple outward into the wider community.
The next Workabee Day will take place mid-May, so if you’d like to volunteer to help grow a community garden of kindness, visit www.mesalifestyle.com/tileworks-peace-garden.
Also visit this website for more information about the Peace Garden or to make a donation to the Wild Bricks fundraiser. The TileWorks of Bucks County is located at 130 E. Swamp Rd. in Doylestown.
