A Garden for the Town

Salisbury is a town that values its natural surroundings, and a connection to the earth. An outgrowth of that commitment was the inauguration, in 2013, of the Hewat Community Garden, where residents who don’t have the space for vegetable or flower gardens at their homes can have a place to grow seasonal plantings annually.

Besides space, there can be obstacles to making a secure fenced-in area at one’s property. And there is something to be said for communal gardening — that is, sharing with others the joys and challenges of the way things grow year to year. Every year is a little different.

The summer of 2022 was defined by a severe lack of precipitation, which led to drought conditions. It’s hard enough to coax vegetable plants to thrive and produce in a normal year, but drought makes that all the more difficult. At least there was an abundance of full sun. And several inches of rain finally came at the beginning of September.

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley was at the garden, which is off Salmon Kill Road on the Housatonic Child Care and Salisbury Family Services property, in early September (before the rain) and took the time to speak with this reporter. She was doing some watering, and noted how tough the drought had made it for all the gardeners this summer.

Yet the evidence was that the gardeners had given their individual plots enough attention so that flowers and vegetables had a chance to grow. The sense of pride in each section was evident, with the designs clearly reflecting each gardener’s passion. Sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias and more conjured all the colors of late summer, along with tomatoes, peppers, kale and even corn, just to mention a portion of the harvest.

Ten years of the Community Garden has meant constant improvements to the area, including a gazebo, a tall fence that is stronger than a home gardener would normally be able to have, easy access to watering, a shed, a mower and ongoing attention to soil quality.

The garden was designed by Lakeville landscape architect (and Lakeville Journal columnist) Mac Gordon, who has kept a plot there himself most years. It is administrated by Salisbury Family Services, whose Director of Social Services Patrice McGrath said in a recent interview that they had hoped from the beginning to get all kinds of people working together there, and that has happened.

The excess produce goes to the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville, she said, so nothing goes to waste. “And, the garden is on the Pollinator Path, thanks to Helen Baldwin planting two pollinator patches.”

The cost to join for a full season is $30 for a single plot and $50 for a double. “But if someone can’t afford the fee, that should not be an obstacle to anyone. We work with those who need help, and all should know they can still participate,” McGrath said.

Anyone who would like to take part in the Hewat Community Garden next summer should contact McGrath around January of 2023 to make a reservation. She is at Salisbury Family Services, 860-435- 5187, or pmcgrath@salisburyct.us, or go to the website at www.salisburyfamilyservices.org.

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Some of the flowers and vegetables that made it to harvest despite the drought. Photo by Janet Manko

Photo by Janet Manko

Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko