SACO — Gardeners from Saco and neighboring communities are planting their crops at the Saco Community Garden at Haley Park on King Street.

All 48 plots, each 10 by 10 feet, have been rented out to people and organizations in Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Biddeford, and there is a waiting list should any of them become available.

Jeanine Demers, of Biddeford, said she used to garden, but now lives in town and doesn’t have the yard for it, while tending to the two plots she rents out Tuesday morning. She said she tried container gardening but it wasn’t as satisfying as having a standard garden.

Demers said she enjoys getting out in the fresh air and is looking forward to growing her own food.

“It tastes so much better,” she said, when it’s fresh. When people grow their own food, they have a better appreciation for it, she said.

Margaret Mills, chairwoman of the Saco community gardens and a city councilor, spearheaded the group last year, beginning with a test plot on the grounds of the Dyer library.

Mills said she is grateful to the city for allowing the group to use the land. The open, flat area is a good location for a garden, she said.

The Saco community garden is under the auspices of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The location will soon have water hooked up, and a compost bin will be on site in the future.

Students from Biddeford Regional Center of Technology are currently building a 10 by 12 timber frame shed on the property. Teacher Wayne Hapgood said it will be completed by the end of the school year, which is just a few weeks away.

The shed will hold gardening tools, as well as resource books and a bulletin board where information can be posted.

The group is looking at fencing to help keep groundhogs out of the plots, and Mills said she would like to find something attractive, not only to keep the garden looking good, but to blend in with the nice neighborhood in which the park is located.

The community gardens recently received a $1,000 grant from the Kay E. Dopp Fund of the Maine Community Foundation and  $500 from the New England Grassroots environmental fund. The group has also had local donations.

“We’ve had so much support from the community,” said Mills. Not only  in donations, she said, but many encouraging words and positive feedback.

“There’s a real positive feel” to the project, said Mills.

Mills said the group researched what other communities were doing and got information from sources such at the York County Extension Office.

According to the guidelines, gardens must be tilled by Memorial Day, planted by mid-June, tended throughout the season, and “put to bed” by November.

Mills said one of the benefits of gardening is the ability to reduce a person’s grocery bill. Also, people don’t always know where their food comes from when it’s purchased, she said.

“They feel better if it’s  grown under their care,” she said.

With a garden, people have control and there’s a vested interest, said Communications Secretary Diane Lambert.

Lambert and Mills said that they look forward to the camaraderie of gardening and sharing ideas. Gardeners range from experienced to beginner, and Mills said it will be fun to share the process with this mix of people.

There are a number of master gardeners available to address concerns and questions. Lambert said the group recently held a workshop where people could get answers to their gardening questions.

“We’re here to support people and make sure the process moves forward,” said Lambert.

“We want people to succeed,” said Mills.

Mills, Lambert and other community garden member Joseph Moreshead will serve as garden reviewers to make sure gardeners are meeting the standards of the project’s guidelines.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.