Summer is on its way. If you’ve thought about gardening but haven’t space, why not grow your vegetables in Old Town’s new community garden?
Old Town residents known as the Old Town Pride/Image Committee have created raised beds for your gardening this summer. Donations from a variety of businesses and the city have made this possible. These 4 foot by8 foot beds are located next to the public safety building along Brunswick Street. Twelve beds are filled with wonderful soil from Spragues’ Nursery and supplemented with Fedco organic compounds.
For more information call: 947-8595. If you know you would like to have a garden plot go to city hall and sign up! The cost is $20. Applications are on the city’s website at www.old-town.org
Last year there were many happy gardeners. A variety of plants were harvested all summer long. Many of those gardeners are returning this year. Why don’t you join them? Water, water hose, some basic tools, and books about gardening will be found in the garden shed next to the gardens.
The Old Town Pride/Image Committee would love to expand this project; there’s more room to create more beds and to welcome more residents to the world of gardening next spring. One recommendation from last year’s gardeners was that new people be taught to garden by learning about seeds, soils, plantcare, harvesting and preparing food from their gardens. Cynthia Jennings at Old Town Library is offering a series of free workshops to help all those interested in learning more about gardens. Experts from the area are volunteering to lead these workshops. To find out more contact the library at 827-3972.
Economic Development Director Ron Harriman spearheaded this effort. He obtained donations, and mustered the “people power” to make it all happen. Also pitching in was the City of Old Town, Casella, Sprague’s Nursery, and Maine Coast Compost and the city work crew: Assessor Travis Roy, Public Works Director John Rouleau, Public Safety Director Scott Wilcox, Code Enforcement Officer Dave Russell, City Councilor David Mahan, and Harriman, along with Crisanne Blackie and Al Dickey.
Currently the Pride/Image Committee is looking for a volunteer, someone who loves to garden and could coordinate this project. The coordinator will receive a rent free garden bed for this summer. If you have a couple of hours a week to give back to your community, get the details from Harriman.
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