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In 2009, a demonstration garden was established along the perimeter of the community garden. This ‘demo garden’ is maintained by master gardeners through a grant obtained from Western Mass Master Gardeners Association. Besides demonstrating good use of soil, sun and pest control in growing herbs, vegetables and flowers, the demo garden and these master gardeners provide many models for planting, such as square-foot design, companion, container, trellis, tower and raised beds. Easy access to master gardeners is a great benefit to the community gardeners and to home gardeners as well as is evident by the constant visitors to the demo garden throughout the growing season. The combined master gardeners’ expertise and interest in developing best practices for successful gardening has been central to the resurgent interest in gardening in our community.
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Critically important and very fittingly, an imposing stretch of soil in the center of the 42 community garden plots is our Food Pantry Garden. Critically important because in its growth over the past five years, it has provided thousands of pounds of fresh produce to our neighbors in need. Critically important because it has provided talented gardeners – young and old – an opportunity to work together in planning, preparing, planting, maintaining and harvesting beautiful fruit from this great land. Critically important because the land itself and the volunteer workforce express our community’s values and ethics, that is, respect for our physical environment and for our citizens.
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We are growing various vegetables under biodegradable mulch for soil warming and weed suppression. We found this technique to be especially effective in the handicap section of the Community Garden. It was much appreciated by our handicapped gardener. Note: the height of a handicapped garden bed is determined by the limitations of the specific gardener when the bed is constructed.
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