Wednesday, October 1, 2014

A Bounty of Organic Vegetables right here in Charlestown

Yeah Team!!!
By Pat Kent


What a summer! The Charlestown Community Garden has surpassed all previous harvests.  Year to date, the garden has harvested 5,000+ lbs. (2.5 tons) of nutrient dense organic vegetables and the fall crops are sure to continue to increase the bounty.

All produce is donated to local food banks, which include Jonnycake Center of Westerly, the WARM Center in Westerly, Meals on Wheels, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Food Pantry in Charlestown and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center in CT. 



Additionally, meals are supplemented with produce at the Charlestown Community/Senior Center during their popular lunch service. The produce includes typical summer and fall vegetables such as, tomatoes, eggplant, green beans and others, along with plants that keep on giving such as kale, swiss chard and collard greens.

Four years ago, the Charlestown Community Garden was initiated as an Eagle Scout project by now Eagle Scout, Chris Hacunda, with the help of Parks and Recreation Director, Jay Primiano. 

The small farm is located in Ninigret Park, Charlestown on a 15,000 sq. foot parcel of land.  The first volunteers were local residents, Susie Fehrmann, now Executive Director, and quickly followed by Jonnycake Volunteer Coordinator, Steve Symonds; both are on the garden Board of Directors. 

Volunteers continue to increase in numbers yearly bringing brawn and expertise to the community atmosphere generated at the garden. 

Caleb, the youngest volunteer this year, is six and came with his sister, Kathryn 9, brother, David 12 and Mother. Our oldest volunteer, Roger, is 81 who works vigorously following his routine of attending the Recreation Department’s yoga class offered at the Charlestown Community Center.

Penny Guiliani picks cucumbers
On our best day this summer, the garden participation peaked with 23 volunteers while last week we had ten folks helping to harvest vegetables in the rain.  This number varies on harvest days which are weekly, Tues. & Thurs. 9am-12noon. This year, volunteers came from as far north as Warwick, Rhode Island and some of the other surrounding towns of Westerly, Ashaway, Matunuck, Watch Hill via NYC, CT and Charlestown. 

Volunteers are the heart of the garden and without them we would not be able to accomplish all we do.  They come to the garden for a variety of reasons which include exercise, a love of gardening, a desire to learn about gardening and the most important reason, to help their neighbors in need.

Many volunteers are retired.  Others are on summer vacation from school or currently unemployed.

The first question volunteers ask is “What can I do?” On any given day, men, women and children are planting, harvesting, replanting, sifting compost, harvesting worm castings, weeding and distributing food.  This important work provides volunteers with great personal satisfaction.

Marty Flynn shows off just some of the tomatoes
Progress is a key ingredient to a successful garden.  In the beginning of this season, volunteers removed the last of the sprinkler devices replacing with the newly installed drip-irrigation system. 

The Blue Cross/Blue Shield Corporation donated fencing and labor to replace the original deer fencing. This grant was obtained by SRIV (Southern Rhode Island Volunteers) on behalf of the garden. 

Each year Luckyfoot Ranch of N. Kingston rototills the soil and then the winter rye crop is planted to replace depleted nitrogen in the soil. Generous members of the public have donated tools and other farm implements which often were slated for garage sale tables. 

Many of our plants and seeds come from the URI Master Gardener Outreach Program and from locals who provide extra seedlings.

The Town of Charlestown was the Garden’s original fiscal sponsor and now leases the land to the Jonnycake Center of Westerly who has become the fiscal sponsor for the garden. Without the energy of Chris Hacunda, the foresight of Jay Primiano and the support of the Town of Charlestown, none of the benefits of community farm assistance would have happened.  Thanks to all who have sought to help so many people in need.

We rely upon donations from the public to purchase supplies needed for the growth and maintenance of the garden.  If you would like to donate, please send your tax deductible check to the Jonnycake Center, 23 Industrial Road, Westerly, RI 02891.  Please write Charlestown Community Garden on the memo line.

The Charlestown Community Garden will have a table at the Swamp Yankee Days on Sat., Oct. 11th and Sun., Oct. 12th

If you have questions about our garden or gardening, such as putting your garden to bed for the winter or improving your soil, please stop by and visit. 

Otherwise, you may visit us at the garden any Tues. or Thurs. from 9am-12noon, located at 100 Park Lane in beautiful Ninigret Park, Rte. 1A, next to the Community Center.  As you enter Ninigret which is diagonally across the street from the Charlestown Police Department, follows the signs. 

You can also visit us on Facebook – click here.