Rail Trail Community Garden to be Raised this Saturday!

It has been 6 months in the making, and is the product of many efforts, hopes, and dreams over the past few years; The Nashua Heritage Rail Trail Community Garden will be raised this Saturday along the path after which it is named.

Gate City Community Gardens Inc has been laying the groundwork for the project, and the day is fast approaching that all of that work will come to fruition.

To bring you up to speed: Gate City Community Gardens (GCCG) is an organization that was formed by a group of attendees of regular "Visualize Nashua" meetings, where they would discuss ideas that might improve the community that they care very much about.

The mission of Gate City Community Gardens is to foster social engagement, public wellness, safer neighborhoods, and environmental stewardship in the city of Nashua through community gardening and educational programming.

One of the ideas that kept coming up was that of expanding access to community gardens in the city. Starting in January, they began to work toward making that dream a reality. The newly formed NH Non-Profit Corporation has worked with city officials, local businesses, and interested community members on finding a location for the garden and raising funds/supplies needed to build the garden - and the response from the community has been quite positive.

To date, GCCG has raised $2800 of an estimated $5000 budget with community partners through events like Art in Bloom, The Spring Fancy Friday, a Great Gatsby premiere night at Chunky's Cinema as well as through generous donations from likeminded supporters.

The organization has secured a lease for a stretch of green space along the Nashua Hertage Rail Trail from the city for $1 annually. They have already begun some preliminary work at the site, and are looking for help from the community to complete the majority of the build out of a fence and 10-14 raised beds this Saturday.

Volunteers will meet at the garden site from 10am-3pm, to build a fence, gates, raised beds, trim back over growth, and do other prep work at the site. All are welcome to come lend a hand, and are encouraged to email GateCityGardens@gmail.com if they are able to come or RSVP at the Facebook event page here. Donuts and coffee will be provided in the morning, and lunch will be available for volunteers as well. 

The weather forecast for this Saturday in Nashua is Sunny in the mid 70's. It will be a beautiful day to get out there and do some good work for a great cause! We hope you can make it!

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Gate City Community Gardens is still working to raise the funds needed for items like a tool shed, perrenials, irrigation, and a picnic table for the site. Donations can be made online here, or mailed directly to 89 East Hobart Street, Nashua, NH 03060.