The front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church of Brockport, 35 State Street in the village, is a special place. It’s home to the Brockport Community Garden – a peaceful and productive spot open for sharing to anyone who passes-by.
The garden was weeded, prepped and planted for the 2015 growing season on Saturday, May 30, and many members from the community came to take part – including the Brockport Blue Devils JV and Varsity Football Teams.
“They (team members) eat their pre-game dinners at the church,” work-day organizer Anita Mault says. “We feed them during the season and they pay us back with hard work and sweat in the summertime. You could say one hand feeds the other.”
The garden is planted with an amazing selection of vegetables and edible flowers including squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, Swiss chard and more.
Anita says the garden is chemical-free and draws the attention of residents and passers-by.
“It’s amazing how many people stop by and ask questions,” she says. “It’s neat to have people stop. The kids get right in there and want to help.”
The garden now consists of eight neat and tidy raised beds with mulched paths in between.
The garden has grown to twice the size of when it began, Anita says, and there is the desire to expand it further in the future.
She grows many of the veggies from seed for transplanting in the garden and other plants are donated. “We grow very little from seed directly in the garden,” she says.
Anyone can help work to maintain the garden over the growing season and all are invited to partake of the healthy harvest. There are a few ground rules: If it is ripe, eat it; share with others; if you are sure it’s a weed, pull it, if not, let it grow; if it is wilting, water it – a hose is available on the right side of the building; if you see a problem, fix it or call the church at 637-3780; spread the word and celebrate the beauty of God’s garden.
The plantings are planned with “companion gardening” concepts in mind. Organizers say that means planting complimentary vegetables together and including annuals to attract beneficial insects and reduce weeds.
The purpose of the garden is to bring members of the community closer together and improve the collective quality of life.
According to the garden’s website (brockportcommunitygarden.weebly.com) the garden features fresh vegetables needed for a healthy diet; acknowledges obstacles that keep families from eating healthy foods such as expense, lack of time, skill, space and awareness; plantings help to show what is possible – to help people imagine their own gardens and menu options outside of processed and packaged foods; provides an opportunity to distribute recipes using the produce grown; provides opportunities to practice garden skills and provides a place to exchange knowledge and ideas.
The Brockport Community Garden is worth a visit when you are in the Brockport area. You can pull a few weeds, sample some fresh produce and even get inspired for your own garden.
