How Does Your Garden Grow?

How does your garden grow? Does it bloom with vibrant colors and sweet scents perfect for a June wedding, or does it produce delicious fruits and vegetables for summer cookouts and picnics? In Chatham, New Jersey, a new garden will grow full of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers, and it will be a community effort.

The Chatham Community Garden will be located on the corner of Main Street and Division Avenue, on a plot of land leased from PSE&G. The garden will consist of 40 plots, each 10 x 10 feet, and each plot will be surrounded by a fence.  The land is in full view of the sun and has adequate access to water. 

Zach Subar, a writer for Chatham Patch, has been reporting on the development of the Community Garden and the local companies that are donating their time and resources to the project. He reports that “Green Path Organic Landcare has donated its labor and will help set up fencing, and Coviello Brothers will work compost on site into the ground.” In addition, Chatham Borough is planning to pay for some of the garden upkeep and mowing around the site. Gardener Marta McDowell, who will be blogging about the project, has also donated plant materials to the Chatham Community Garden.

Because of their dedication and commitment to the project, Community Garden Coordinator Marcy Wecker and 18 other volunteers were given the first opportunity to reserve a plot.  After that, plots were assigned through a lottery system, offered to both Township and Borough residents. At least 25 residents were not selected in the lottery and will be put on a waiting list for next year, at which time planners hope to expand the Garden by an additional 60 plots.

At Lois Schneider Realtor, we applaud the efforts of our local volunteers and thank them for the time and talent they donate to make our communities a better place. We look forward to watching their garden grow!

Tags: Chatham Community Garden, Chatham New Jersey, Community Volunteers