Many gardeners will be at work this weekend at the new community garden in West Kennebunk. Spaces have been going fast, but with 110 plots available, prime sites may still be available.
The Kennebunk Community Garden is laid out on a lot next to the West Kennebunk Recreation Area, on land provided by the nearby Animal Welfare Society. Each garden plot ($25 fee for residents, $35 for out-of-towners) is 10 by 20 feet.
It’s not enough for a crop of sweet corn, and pumpkin vines would need to be carefully corralled, but it’s enough to bring lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers, herbs to the table regularly, starting perhaps within a month and continuing into the fall.
Two features are especially worth noting. These will be organic gardens, policed by firm guidelines and peer pressure. And about 25 percent of the 240-by-300-foot lot will be devoted to a community plot, where gardeners will pool their labor and expertise to raise produce for local food pantries.
This is true philanthropy ”“ giving away garden-fresh produce raised and tended under the hot sun, without the promise of a tax write-off next April 15.
As for the organic regimen, many gardeners favor the theory, then lapse when trouble strikes. The question is whether Kennebunk Community Garden will have experts who can help diagnose problems and come up with appropriate solutions. It’s likely several experts will emerge. If so, many gardeners might want to sign up for a plot, just for the tutorials.
Facilities at the site include a compost bin and tool shed, a nearby water supply, toilet facilities and a nearby parking lot. As participants work through the summer, they will compile their own list of amenities, which will likely include fresh air and friendship.
— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or at kristenm@journaltribune.com or ncowenhoven@journaltribune.com.
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