Starting to Look Like a Garden
Plots have been staked and tilled at the Marion Street site.
Though the public likely won’t be allowed to plant there until next spring, the Red Bank Community Garden on Marion Street is beginning to shape up. The parcel of land, located between two residential properties and near the Eastside Park, was recently staked and each potential plot was tilled in preparation for planting.
Now, garden organizer Cindy Burnham said, they’re looking for gardeners to fill the garden up.
According to Burnham, the Red Bank Community Garden Committee is considering one of two options going forward. According to the borough, the garden club can only run plot and collect fees if it is a registered 501c3 and covers the cost of everything from water to insurance, she said. The gardeners also have the option to allow the borough to run the garden under its Parks and Recreation Department where garden fees would help cover water and other costs.
Still some time away, the garden, now just tilled plots, is evidence of what seemed like would never happen in Red Bank. Nearly two years of meetings and arguments over where to locate the garden, from downtown, where it would be highly visible, to the west side, where residents might benefit most from having a garden nearby, have lead to this current site.
For more information about the garden, or how to lease a plot in the future, click the link here.
JosephGhabourLaw
9:19 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The taste of freshly grown local produce has another benefit. The benefit is is green -- cash. Community gardens increase property values.
http://www.communitygarden.org/docs/learn/articles/multiple_benefits.pdf
ei davis
4:36 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The plot next to my hedges is too close for me to maintain my property. A small portion of my hedges was cut to put that particular plot further providing proof that its in the wrong place. I don't appreciate anyone touching my hedges without written approval by me, The Homeowners
Looking at picture 2 of 2, that plot has plenty of room to be put on the left side of this picture without interfering with me to continue to maintain my property. Something I've been doing since I purchased my home 18 years ago.
The RBCG is a bad idea. For one thing, none of the people involved with the garden live on our street. They have no idea or could give a care less of the abundant rabbit and squirrel population on this street. Now thanks to the "free food" plots put there from the RBCG, I stand to have an abundance of holes dug throughout my yard by these wild animals.
Thank you for being so overly considerate, RBCG.
Marjorie Smith
10:09 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Is it your property or are your hedges encroaching on their property? If the hedges were encroaching, they have the right to cut the offending growth without your permission. Your own admission of the "abundant" population of rabbit and squirrel suggests that these creatures already find the area appealing and it is likely the gardeners will do what is necessary to curb scavenging so as to maximize their harvests.
Liz
11:10 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I do believe that having gardens throughout the town will be very beneficial to all. I do understand that change is scary, and the unknown is even more frightening, however, members of the RBGC actually live in Red Bank, have lived in Red Bank all their life and want to see Red Bank make some vacant areas into gardens. My family lives in Red Bank and we have wanted places for gardens either vegetable or flower for many years. This is a way that our town can improve small grass/weed/dirt/asphalt areas without placing the burden of mowing, weeding and watering on the department of public works. Gardeners will have the opportunity and space to plant food. The produce will help to feed themselves and others if they choose. Children will have the ability to learn about where fresh food comes from and maybe get some hands on experience in the garden with a gardener. Neighbors will get a chance to visit. That visit might actually evolve into a conversation that lends itself into neighbors helping neighbors-communities becoming sustainable! To me a community garden is a win-win for all.