Back in 2007 two local young residents, Katie Hayes and Joe Natale, decided they wanted to build and support an organic community garden. At the time, the mission of Sustainable West Milford (now Nature Connection of West Milford) was to support participant-led projects… so of course we said yes! Robin Rose Bennett, a local herbalist and author, introduced us to Anne Thornton who owns Apple Acres. We asked if she had room to accommodate a community garden, and she said YES.
After many backbreaking hours of work turning over the old Apple Acres cow pasture and building a garden fence from a deck on the property that our volunteers had helped deconstruct, the community gardens were born.
By 2011, we had so many people on the waiting list that we created a second garden at Wallisch Homestead. Today, there are 65 garden plots in total: 30 at Apple Acres and 35 at Wallisch. Each year 3 to 4 plots of the 65 are turned over to new gardeners on the waiting list, but some of our long-term gardeners have even been willing to share their larger plot with new members.
An 8x8 community garden plot at either Apple Acres or Wallisch Homestead costs $40 for the year. Soil amendments, pest control resources, education, and a community of like-minded people who support each other are all included as part of the membership fee. Because our gardeners range greatly in age and working schedules, we tend to have a group of people sprinkled throughout the week during the mornings and afternoons, as well as a different group that tends to garden more on weekends.
At least 30 of our gardeners engage in the regular fun and lively social events at both gardens where you will find them sharing food they made from what they are growing, and enjoying a mocktail (or cocktail) while gathered around a bonfire. In addition to social and educational events, garden members have exclusive opportunities to purchase organic plants from local farmers, bring their skills and talents toward overall garden improvements that benefit all members, and are encouraged to contribute to a garden committee to help keep the gardens maintained and thriving. (mowing, pest control, composting, etc.). The gardens truly have become a community meeting place all season long.
For those who wish to garden with us, but are not ready for a plot, the Ample Harvest Culinary Herb Garden project is a great place to start.