Bay residents can get a jump on spring by reserving a community garden plot

Steve Slane and Christine Demeter join fellow Bay community gardeners on planting day in 2010. The garden will open on May 1 this year, weather permitting.

Make organic local food part of your healthy lifestyle by reserving a community garden plot today! The Bay Community Garden, located on Wolf Road, is now accepting applications from Bay residents for the 2012 garden season. The garden plots are 4-by-8 feet, and are rented for $40 per year. Since a technique called “Square Foot Gardening” is used, it is amazing how many vegetables and herbs can be grown on each of these plots.

The gardening is all organic. The city provides gardeners with rich humus to spread on the garden plots. The humus is leaf-based compost that is the result of the leaf pick-up program. In fall, the leaves are taken to the Westlake Service Center to be composted and returned as humus in spring to use in the gardening. The humus is a great soil amendment that is mixed into your garden to create a fertile planting bed. 

The garden is truly a place of beauty and tranquility. Come wander through the garden in spring, summer or fall and see for yourself the wide variety of vegetables and herbs that are being grown. There is a sense of community – enjoy a chat with a fellow gardener, share success stories and harvest fresh vegetables from your garden plot for your table that evening.

The garden is very sustainable. In addition to organic gardening methods, you are eating food that is grown locally in your very own garden plot. And, any vegetable clippings are placed in the compost bins on the corner of the garden, so that the compost can be used the following season in the garden.

The community garden first opened in May 2010. This will be its third year. The number of plots rented has grown to around 130. There are many good plots still available. The garden opens around May 1, weather permitting, and closes down just prior to Thanksgiving.

You must be a Bay resident to rent a garden plot and all gardeners must fill out garden registration and waiver forms. The forms are available on the Green Team website at www.bayvillagegreenteam.com/community-garden.

To register, bring your completed forms and $40 cash or check to the City Hall reception desk during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please make checks payable to City of Bay Village and write "Community Garden" in the memo line.

For questions regarding registration, email desk@cityofbayvillage.com or call 440-871-2200. 

Brenda OReilly

Co-Chair of the Bay Village Green Team

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Volume 4, Issue 6, Posted 11:47 AM, 03.20.2012