Sogkonate Garden Club's 'Demonstration Meadow' in the Making

Sogkonate Garden Club’s ‘Demonstration Meadow’ in the Making

by Donna Pilkington

In June 2017, the Sogkonate Garden Club sponsored a free day long program by noted sustainable plant experts Doug Tallamy and Rick Darke. Funds for the program came from 22 private donors and 7 community environmental groups. With leftover funds which remained after this program, the club decided to put lessons learned into practice and created a ‘Demonstration Meadow’ project at the newly built Recreation Complex in Little Compton. The goal was to show the community that sustainable plantings are both beautiful and biodiverse, and easily planted and maintained throughout areas in the town.

On October 17, 2017, the 20x30 foot plot was rototilled and covered with black plastic to solarize and smother vegetation over the winter. It was uncovered and planted on June 5, 2018 with a combination of small plugs and plants of native plants and grasses and later mulched with composted leaf litter. The plants thrived over the dry summer, needing very little weeding and watering.

In the future, the club plans to monitor the plantings, erect a descriptive sign, and install plant markers for the public to learn about the project. The plot has generated many favorable comments from those who use the Recreation field. This project has been a true community effort.

Photograph by Donna Pilkington. Club members pictured left to right are: Barbara Passmore, Kay Hughes, Lynne Curtis, Will Newman, Mikel Folcarelli, and Joyce Dunagan.