Creating Community In Deep River, One Plant At A Time

DEEP RIVER, CT — Creating community has always been a goal for Colin Bennett, owner of Bennett's Book store in downtown Deep River. To that end, he has been busying himself lately with a new idea; the launch of the Sylvantide Plant Swap. A 'Leaf A Plant, Take a Plant' station open to the community. The swap will include plants of all kinds; flowers, vegetables, succulents and even trees.

With sharing, giving and creating community at the forefront of Bennett's endeavors, he said this idea is designed to help bring people together through the love of plants.

Enlisting the aid of the local community, Bennett has created the plant swap space outside the back of the bookstore (at 171 Main Street in Deep River). It is accessible during the day, seven days a week. According to Bennett, his team is working on propagating dozens of plants to share, but the project is supposed to be truly by-and-for the community with a “leave what you can, take what you need” ethos. The idea is not to buy plants but to share plants.

When she heard about the new project, local John Winthrop Middle School Technology Education Teacher, Jenn Blalock, stepped up to help out. Her students, seventh graders Emma Abramson and Anahi Matute designed, cut and assembled the plant stand for the project and kindly donated it to the bookstore as part of their technology education course.

"Both girls came in with zero experience and faced designing challenges along the way but are pleased with their final project," said Blalock in a prepared statement.

"The whole idea for this project came from a place of community focus," said Bennett. "This is another way to help the community in addition to offering affordable books. Sharing brings people together and creates a sense of community and this plant swap is an easy way to do that so, 'why not?' This is important in a lot of ways."

The bookstore will continue to run its Little Free Pantry and Freedge (giving fridge), to help local families in need.

Those looking to get more information about the swap can visit www.bennettsbookstore.com or go to the Sylvantide Plant Share Facebook page to join.

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