Friday, April 9, 2010

Kennebunk Community Garden Committee Looks to its Second Season

KENNEBUNK—
The Town of Kennebunk’s Community Garden Committee is pleased to announce that it is now accepting rental applications for the 2010 season. Anyone interested in renting plots may register during regular Town Hall business hours. An individual or a family living at the same address may rent one or two seasonal 10’ X 10’ plots. The rental fee for the 2010 season is $25 for a 10’ X 10’ plot or $50 for a 10’ x 20’. Plots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register early as the Committee expects to sell out quickly. (For additional information, including rules, regulations and educational materials, or to download the three application forms, visit www.kennebunkcommunitygarden.org). Planting is expected to begin Memorial Day weekend.
The garden is located at the end of Holland Road between the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) and the tennis courts in West Kennebunk. It has been developed in partnership with AWS and the Town of Kennebunk. AWS has allowed the Committee to use its land for the garden, while the Town of Kennebunk was instrumental in helping get the garden off to a great start last year and is continuing to support the Committee at every turn.
The Committee has been working hard over this past winter to ensure that all renters have a successful growing season. Toward this end, the soil is being amended with 100 yards of organic compost. Plans are also underway for the construction of a new garden shed to house tools and supplies; students from Kennebunk High School are volunteering their time to build the structure and Deering Lumber in Kennebunk is supporting their efforts. In addition, the Town of Kennebunk will install a more permanent fence and move the water spigot to the center of the garden. The area just outside the fence will also be treated for ticks.
In addition to approximately 44 individual plots, a large part of the area is dedicated to raising produce for local food banks and shelters. Renters are required to donate a minimum of six hours to the community garden, as stated in the Kennebunk Community Garden Guidelines. “This year, however, we plan to have more structured blocks of time during which a garden committee member or volunteer will be on hand to direct specific job activities, which include tending the community food program section of the garden,” says Committee Chairperson Bevan Davies. “Despite the tomato blight, last year we donated 500 pounds of produce to local food programs, and we are really hoping for even more this year.”