For those who are itching to get out and garden this season but are unable to because of inadequate yard space, sunlight or soil issues, the Margaret Ellis Community Garden in Wiscasset and the Harpswell Community Garden are making rentable plots available for the 2015 growing season.

“I think people who know about it think it’s a great idea,” said Jane Covey, one of the Harpswell Community Garden coordinators. “We’re constantly trying to get the word out that it exists. And we’ve had lots of support from the town itself.” The Harpswell Community Garden plots, located at Mitchell Field ofHarpswell Neck Road,
offer plots that are 10 by 10
feet and 10 by 15 feet priced
at $25 or $35 for seasonal
rental. A “pay as you can”
policy is also available for
those who cannot afford the
full price of the plot.

So far, Covey said the 25
plots offered at Harpswell
have been adequate for the
community year after year,
and they have never had to
turn people away because of
lack of space.

However, she
added that there are still
areas of the field that can be
developed, if and when the
time is necessary for expansion.
Covey has been personally
involved with the project
since 2011 when the gardens
officially opened, although
they did not have a successful
season until 2012. Since
then, the harvest has been
plentiful every year.

Since late April, preparations
for the common garden
have been underway, which
is dedicated to growing food
to donate to the Midcoast
Hunger Prevention Program.
The plot, which is 20
by 60 feet, is mostly tended
by volunteers throughout
the season.

Community gardeners are
expected to volunteer six
hours a season, whether it
involves working in the common
garden or participating
in a work day, a general
cleanup or other gardening
activities.

However, the
response has always been
positive, according to Covey.
“People are very responsible
— we haven’t had a situation
where somebody has
not participated,” she said.
The same type of volunteer
work is expected of gardeners
at the Margaret Ellis
Community Garden located
at Morris Farm, and this
year marks the farm’s sixth
season of community gardening.

Residents of Lincoln and Sagadahoc county and community
members are
encouraged to rent garden
plots that are available at 10
by 20 feet for $30.
John Affleck, the farm’s
program coordinator, said
the community garden
aligns with the overall goals
of the farm and how it was
envisioned as a meeting
place where community
members can learn to be
proper stewards of the land.
“Our community garden
is one of the places at the
Morris Farm where this
happens most directly,” he
said.

“Like any relationship,
the land responds and gives
back in the form of a harvest
if we treat it with respect,
patience and thoughtfulness.
Providing adults, and especially
children, with a place
for this is important — it’s
bigger than just what we
take home to put on the
table.”

In addition to the 20 plots
available this year, like the
Harpswell Community Garden,
Morris Farm also designates a separate plot that is
solely dedicated to producing
food to donate to local
food banks, churches and
other organizations in need
throughout the community.
Del Ketcham, who recently
passed away this year, was
the former community garden
organizer at the farm
and was committed to raising
a “tremendous amount
of organic veggies for food
pantries and for folks in
need” each year, according
to Affleck.

“He leaves behind a
hands-on legacy of good
work accomplished in the
community garden,” he said.
Community members
interested in renting plots at
the Margaret Ellis Community
Garden can call 380-7154
or email
mf.comgardens@gmail.com.
And for more information
about the Harpswell Community
Garden, call 725-2660
or email
coveybrown@gmail.com.

 

FOR INFORMATION on the Margaret Ellis Community Garden in Wiscasset call 380- 7154 or email mf.comgardens@gmail.com.

FOR INFORMATION about the Harpswell Community Garden call 725-2660 or email coveybrown@gmail.com.