Get Your Own Little Patch Of Green In Maplewood: Applications For Greenhouse Spot Due Soon

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Does city life leave you longing for a little green space?

Maplewood Township residents have an opportunity to use a public greenhouse space to store their plants for the winter.

The Rahner Greenhouse was donated to the township by the Maplewood Garden Club in 1974 and they continue to manage it. The $30 annual rental fee goes to the township to help offset utilities and maintenance.

There are 160 bench spaces available for residents only, each approximately 9 square feet, with the same in area underneath and three square feet on a shelf above.

Applications are due by Sept. 8, and only one space is permitted for each household. However, if spaces are still available after Oct. 1, current season renters may apply for additional bench spaces until all the bench spaces are rented.

Sign-ups In Person

Applications for rental space in the Rahner Greenhouse will be received in the Maplewood Municipal Building meeting hall on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022.

The application forms must be signed by the applicant and accompanied by the seasonal rental fee of $30, either a check made out to "Township of Maplewood," or cash will be accepted. Spaces are allotted on a first come first served basis.

A sign-in sheet will be brought to the meeting hall lobby at 4 p.m., at which time you may enter your name on the sheet. Each person in line may enter only one name on the sign-in sheet. If you are also signing-in for another person who is unable to attend the sign-up (neighbors, friends, family members), you may go back to the end of the line and sign in for that person.

Then, you must return at 7 p.m. to be assigned your space. Space assignments are usually finished by 7.

"We usually assign around 100 of the 160 benches at this event," the club said. "Don’t panic. If you can’t make it to the sign-up, there will be plenty of good benches available for rent at the Division of Public Works located at 359 Boyden Ave. beginning at 12 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Typically, all the benches are sold out by the end of the first week in October."

This year the greenhouse season will be from Saturday, Oct. 1 through Memorial Day, May 29. The hours are:

Monday 10-9
Tuesday 11-4
Thursday 10-9
Saturday 9-4
Sunday 10-4

Email greenhouse@maplewoodgardenclub.org if you need more information.

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