The Riverside Garden raised beds are in

The view from the garden

After a wonderfully productive work day on Sunday, June 14, the Riverside Avenue Community Garden now has 6 beautiful raised beds.  Grow Team ONE and a few neighborhood residents (including yours truly) showed up in full force to plant bulbs, clip some weeds, cut and assemble the hemlock structures for the raised beds, and then place and fill the beds with organic compost from Intervale Compost. 

The beds are 4 by 10 feet and go to about 10 inches in depth.  The soil is nice and rich to provide the perfect environment for whatever plant starts and seeds will be going into them.  The six beds were arranged toward one side to leave room for expansion next summer. 

Grow Team One workers build raised bed frames

This summer, the garden is being used as a demo garden to show the people in the community the opportunities that will available and give some well needed guidance.  The Dream Team (a mentoring program), Burlington Parks and Recreation (a nutritional lunch program) and 669 Riverside Avenue’s Resident managers will each be tending two beds through the gardening season.  Two of the beds (one of the Parks and Recreation group, and one from the Resident managers) will be designated for the Grow and Extra Row campaign, so they will have the opportunity to donate a good amount of fresh vegetables to the Burlington Food Shelf.

A lot of interest is being garnered in the surrounding community, particularly in Burlington Housing Authority’s 669 Riverside Avenue.  Residents will be able to assist in the care of the garden this summer in order to learn more about community gardens and work towards potentially having space in the garden in the future. 

Beds are placed on gardener fabric

 The garden already has a lot of plant starts that are ready to go in the ground, some of which were donated by Pitch Fork Farms, purchased with phenomenal discounts from Adam’s Farm in Essex Junction, and then purchased with a bit of a discount at Arcana Farm in Jericho.  Burlington Housing Authority has donated a large shed and the maintenance department headed by Chris Barrett has given graciously of their time in making the garden a place for great potential growth.

There are some items still needed, and Grow Team ONE headed by Jess Hyman would appreciate any help given towards the acquisition of these things.  Amongst the items still needed are the following:  

Garden Tools-any hand tools, shears, a wheelbarrow, gloves, etc.

A combination lock for the tool shed

A long hose

A watering can

Barrels (for planting herbs)

A garden bench or two

Fruit starts

If you have any of these items, please contact Jess Hyman with Grow Team ONE, or email VTExaminerMom@gmail.com. 

With all the beds now in place, and things up and moving, the Riverside Community Garden is looking great.  The view of Colchester will make for some great reflection while planting seeds and starts in the ground.  Planting is starting for some and about to start for others, so before too long, the garden will be growing fresh vegetables and fresh relationships!  Great job, Grow Team ONE!