Academy Street Garden Seeking Green Thumbs

For folks who love a before and after, the newly established Southington Community Garden along Academy Street awaits volunteers to assist in the inaugural season.

The empty plot behind Town Hall is ready to undergo a complete transformation that will turn the suitable plot into a community garden that will soon grow a variety of organic foods.

No fees are associated with the use of the plots which are available by signing up through the town website. A lottery will determine placement and winners are required to sign a "Garden Rules" agreement. Basic courtesies are outlined in the the form:

• Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are not permitted. 
• A hold harness agreement is required: I understand that neither the garden group nor the Town are responsible for my actions; as such I therefore agree to hold harmless the garden group and the Town of Southington from any liability, loss, damage or claim that occurs in connection with use of the garden by me or any of my guests.
• No parking will be allowed on the garden property. On-street parking is available along with weekend use of the municipal lot.

"I'm hoping the garden will serve as an inspiration to people, and a model for the town. I'd like it to foster a partnership committment from those involved," said Bonnie Sica, of Southington Land Conservation Trust, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1973 with the mission of preserving open space in town..

"This project represents enriching people's lives not only from the fruits of their labor, and there is labor involved, but from a standpoint of the best use of the space," she said.

The terrain gets good light and is for the most part cleared. The lot will be divided into 20 four foot by 12 foot parcels - the standard size used to raise a vegetable bed.

The timeline from initial concept to an actual community garden started January 2010. Sica attended UCONN's “Starting a Community Garden”  program which provided the framework for organization and the logistics needed to follow through.

"I'm looking forward to being able to teach people how easy and economical it is to grow food," said Shari Guarino, master gardener. Guarino along with six other Master Gardeners have volunteered to assist lottery winners with setting up vegetable beds and how to grow food organically.

Sica acknowledged many for their generosity to the project citing a $500 grant from Activate Southington that will go towards a shed, Home Depot for donating supplies, Assistant Town Planner Dave LaVallee, who is donating his masonry skills to the project, the Southington Water Department for installing a locking spigot, Mathieu Memorial for donating a beautiful granite plaque that will say Southington Community Garden 2011 and Greg from Ali’s nursery for his donation of crushed stone for the shed and handicap accessible bed, site work and the stone for the entrance wall that is being built by volunteers. 

To participate in the 2011 Garden Lottery submit the completed Lottery Application and the “RULES” Signature page to the Planning Department by May 17, 2011.