HOLDEN — The glimpse of warmer weather last week revealed that the Holden Community Garden Committee is hard at work planning to expand this spring. The group hopes to double the number of garden plots available to the public, from 11 to 23; add raised beds for those who have difficulty gardening at ground level; and install a drip irrigation system to conserve water.
The Holden Community Garden, located on town land at 175 Highland St., opened in 2018. It is supported by the town and managed by a volunteer committee. Plots are leased out every spring; gardeners pay $25 for the season and agree to use organic gardening practices. Garden tools, compost and water are available on-site. Gardeners raise vegetables, fruits and flowers and take part in periodic group events and cleanups.
HCG now has 11 garden plots, each 10 feet by 18 feet, and two raised beds, which are each 3 feet by 4 feet and 3 feet off the ground. The expansion would add 12 more garden plots and three more raised beds. If funding is made available, these could be in use sometime in the 2023 growing season.
With all current plots already assigned for 2023, the committee is focusing its efforts on a plan for expansion. A big step was made this past fall when the DPW installed water spigots on the property. The gardeners have historically relied on a rainwater collection system, but with recent drought conditions, improved water access was a priority.
The committee wanted to find ways to improve water conservation while strengthening community relationships, so the members reached out to the faculty of the Engineering Program at Wachusett Regional High School. Through student-led projects, the garden is hoping to add a drip irrigation system as well this year. This exciting collaboration will benefit the gardeners as well as the students involved, and serve as a public model of water conservation for residents.
The expansion got a further boost when the Holden Cultural Council recently announced a $500 grant to support the purchase of raised garden beds. These wooden beds will make gardening possible for people who have difficulty gardening at ground level, and the Committee plans to offer free workshops on container and low-impact gardening. Town residents will be exposed to the joys and benefits of gardening and being outdoors, while finding a community of people willing to lend support.
The Holden Community Garden promotes gardening and outdoor activities in Holden in many different ways: HCG provides volunteers and technical support to Davis Hill Elementary School for their Community Garden Program, which has achieved certification as a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat through The National Wildlife Federation; it has offered guidance and collaborative support to other Holden School garden programs; board members have presented gardening classes at housing programs and youth groups; and the group has developed activity centers on the garden properties, including walking paths, perennial gardens, herb gardens and picnic areas. The local Scouting programs, both Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts, have been directly involved in these projects. Town youth are able to participate in projects that allow them to accrue community service hours.
The grounds of the Community Garden are open to everyone; there is no fee to visit.
At present, the Community Garden Committee is fundraising for the expansion project, which they have dubbed Gardening for Everyone. The Holden Community Garden brings together people of all ages and backgrounds around their common love of gardening and enjoyment of the outdoors. The committee wants to enable its neighbors to enjoy the beauty of our town while developing a sense of community through cooperative action, learning about sustainable and environmentally conscious gardening.
To make a donation to HCG, find a link on https:// unipaygold.unibank.com/ transactioninfo.aspx under “Holden Community Garden Donations.”
