By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Four years ago Marlborough created its first community garden – the Cider Knoll Garden at 525 Stow Road on the Cider Knoll/Mello Family Meadow conservation land. In introducing the concept, the city’s Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder said: “It is a real story of everyone coming together to create a community treasure where people are now growing vegetables and getting their hands dirty and eating healthier.”
Through the years, Ryder said she had received calls asking about a community garden and eventually the Open Space and Recreation Plan identified it as a need in the city.
“In 2012 all the pieces came together – lots of people interested, a Boy Scout willing to take on building and installing the fencing, a volunteer who wanted to till and create the garden with his tractor and a construction company willing to give us free loam and a group willing to volunteer time. With all that enthusiasm the garden was created,” she said.
This year the 42 available plots are fully occupied with a variety of organic vegetables and flowers. All gardeners are required to use organic products, fertilizers and mulch.
“It has worked well and everyone is cooperating – and the produce is beautiful,” said Ryder.
Each year spaces are assigned to returning gardeners first and on a lottery basis for remaining spaces. Full size plots are approximately 10 by 20 feet and others are half size, approximately 10 by 10 feet. The rental fee is $25 per season (full) and $15 per season (half). Due to the enthusiastic response each year and the continued growing interest, conservation officials are considering opening a second location on the west side of the city. It is still in the planning stages, according to Ryder.
Among the many who contributed to the establishment of the city’s first Community Garden are members of Boy Scout Troop #2 for contributions of time and materials; Eagle Scout Mitchell McLean for organizing the construction and installation of fencing around the garden; Lynn Faust, Grace Baptist Church Second Saturday group, for organizing the volunteer crew; and Reg Burgess for volunteering with his tractor, contributing endless hours to the project. In addition, the Marlborough Department of Public Works (DPW) delivered wood chips and helped as needed, Patrick Mauro of CMS, Inc., donated eight truckloads of topsoil and Dennis Demers of Demers Construction provided the backhoe and labor needed to remove large rocks.
Last summer a shed used to house tools and supplies was built by James Read, a local Eagle Scout. Anyone interested in learning more about the project may call Ryder at 508-360-3768 or email [email protected].