Our Community Garden Planning is starting up. It looks like our Work and Plot Assignment Day will be April 10th. Mark your calender if you have a plot at the BVG!
We have an enormous waiting list this year – 80 so far. Too bad there isn’t space for everyone who wants to grow their own food. The good news is we likely will have at least several additional new pots this year in an area the town has newly cleared.
13 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for sharing the information on community garden planning. It was nice going through your blog.
80 people? That's intense. Don't know what the competition for the local community gardens is like around here, but I can only hope that it's that good. We need more people interested in gardening and learning how to do it. As long as you've got takers, I guess I should be content…
Lucky Belmonters. Here, my city is content with a community garden with just 10 plots since the past 3 years now. I have tried talking to the concerned people but they dont seem interested. I really want a larger plot(mine is 100 sq.ft now)and I am sure there are more eager gardeners out there waiting. Hope I can do something. Any advice?
I'm on the waiting list. I wonder how far down I am.
Oh no! I must be on the waiting list too. The kids and I will be so bummed if we can't do a garden. I guess I need to look for another location. BVG is on our way to work/summer camp and would be sooo convenient. Anyway, I just discovered your blog and will be visiting it often! Thank you!
Everyone with a plot and on the waiting list will get a letter from the Commissioner (Mary) very soon. (I think they are in the mail now.) If you're on the wait list, the letter will tell you how to find out if you are likely to get a plot this year. Everyone has to return the enclosed Registration Form by March 24 to retain their plot or to stay on the wait list. Everyone who is likely to get a plot and who has a plot is required to come to our Work Day on April 10, 9 am. Details are in the letter.
Yes, 80 is a BIG number!
I sure wish we had a Community Garden near us.
I think it's fantastic that you have that much interest in a community garden. If we had one around here, I think I might be convinced into working there. Until then, I grow on my porch.
I think it is great that Belmont Town is creating plots/community gardens, good community spirit. We have to constantly keep abreast of the under-handed activities of our local government to make sure they are not trying to sell our allotment land off to developers. We fought them off in 2008 but who knows for the future. Post this publicised fight in the local press our waiting list went wild. More members means more growers and voices of protest.
Marian (LondonUK)
I'm excited to hear progress on your community garden! What an amazing project!
I'm wondering why garden dreamer thinks there is lack of interest in community gardening in her area? I ran a CSA and we always had a big waiting list. Just Foods in NYC connects people with community gardens. Perhaps there is a similar organization in your city?
Do you guys rotate plots? How much or how many problems do you/have you guys had with Vandals? We currently have a wait list of 47 here in Des Moines. The City has two Community Gardens operated by the Parks & Rec Dept, a few others in schools, churches, and one that was started (I believe) within a community that one is a communal garden.
Thank you for responding to the questions I left on your previous post.
Donna
We don't rotate plots. Gardeners get very attached to their plot and some have had the same one for many years.
Theft used to be a problem – though it seems to be going down. Last year I had a garden bag full of clippers, seeds, etc stolen from a hanger in my garden. (I forgot to bring it home with me one night.) I had early zucchinis stolen two years and use a lock now.
I didn't hear of many theft problems last year, maybe since we have so many active plots now and almost always gardeners around.
Previous years, people have lost squashes, perennials, cut flowers, etc. We used to have a group of ladies who'd come in with baskets early in the morning and help themselves.
We have not had any (cross my fingers) vandalism. Thanks goodness.
As the wait lists grow, maybe more towns will dedicate more space to Community Plots. It would be nice. We will likely add 20-25 plots this year, which makes a small dent on our wait list of 80.