Community garden opens for planting
The Logue family will be planting a variety of flowers in
addition to their regular vegetable garden this season.
Randy Logue and his three daughters have already selected plots
for their gardens
– and the best thing is that they get to share their garden with
lots of people because it is part of the Vista Park Hill Community
Garden.
Community garden opens for planting
The Logue family will be planting a variety of flowers in addition to their regular vegetable garden this season.
Randy Logue and his three daughters have already selected plots for their gardens – and the best thing is that they get to share their garden with lots of people because it is part of the Vista Park Hill Community Garden.
Robin Pollard, a Vista Park Hill resident, first organized the community garden in 1999. Those who participated have varying levels of gardening skills and they don’t even have to have their own equipment. Garden tools are provided in a locked community shed, though some people have their own, Pollard said.
The day was hot and dry. Pollard offered iced tea to people who came to get plots to help them cool off.
Some of the plots have been tilled, but many of the plots have grass over them – the new plot holders will have to mow the grass to plant and may need to use a rototiller as well.
Plot holders have until May to plant, though none of them have started yet.
During the March 10 garden event, plot holders surveyed and chose from available plots, walked around them, and in some cases did some light grass removal.
While some gardeners reserve their plots year after year, there are always some new faces. For some gardeners, the hard work of maintaining the plot is enough to keep them away the next year, Pollard said.
Last year, seven new plots were assigned. The number of plots may vary slightly from year to year depending on the plot needs of the gardeners. Some crops such as corn need larger areas than others, Pollard said.
The reality of the hard work of gardening did not stop enthusiastic new plot seekers from arriving last Saturday. Throughout the day, visitors arrived to reserve their plots.
Logue, 44, has been working a plot for four years with his daughters Rachel, 11, Katie, 9, and Amber, 6. The Logues also have an extensive garden at home with about 300 daffodils and 300 tulips.
“If I had another house I would plant thousands of bulbs,” Logue said.
The Community Garden allows his family to do more planting than what the space at home would allow on its own.
“I’ve always done vegetables in the past [in the Vista Park Hill Community Garden],” Logue said. “This year they wanted their own plot for flowers.”
The Logues now have two adjacent plots – one large one for vegetables and one divided one behind it. The girls plan to plant half the flowerbed from seeds and half from bulbs.
“It’s a warmer, drier spring [than last year],” Logue said. “I think it will be a better vegetable year this year.”
The Logue girls each chose flower seeds for their garden based on what colors they liked best.
The seeds, which Pollard gave to people choosing plots, were donated to the Vista Park Hill Community Garden by Paidl Garden & Accents, she said.
Bob Marron, his wife, Linda, and their sons, Rocco, 2, and Nico, 2 months, also came to the garden to pick a plot as a family project.
“Our yard [at home] is so small, we have no room for this,” Bob said. “I feel that I have a green thumb. I want to practice gardening.”
Linda also wants her children to get involved, she said.
“I want to teach my sons to garden,” Linda said.
In addition to families reserving plots, Emily Millar, 29, one of the leaders of Junior Girl Scout Troop 3478 in Hollister, reserved a plot for her ten Scouts to work on.
“It’s a chance for them to participate in the community,” Millar said.
The majority of crops grown by the Scouts will be donated to Community Pantry, Millar said.
Millar envisions growing a fruit tree, raspberries, flowers and vegetables on their plot.
At the end of the day, all but a single plot was accounted for. Several were those of returning gardeners including Pollard and David Bulman, Jr., who helped her create the garden
Additionally, Pollard, has hay available if people would like to put together a scarecrow to add to the two already on site.
People wanting more information on the garden, or who wish to reserve a plot can do so by contacting Pollard at 637-0949.
