Rhinebeck Community Garden Looks Forward to Spring

Rhinebeck Community Garden Looks Forward to Spring

Group welcomes new gardeners for flowers, veggies, and friendship

The Rhinebeck Community Garden steering committee is meeting regularly to plan the 2010 gardening season. Started in the spring of 2009, the garden's first year was full of challenges and great successes. Located in the Thompson Mazzarella Park behind the Starr Library, the grassroots project was the subject of many hours of planning, trouble-shooting, digging, sowing, nurturing, harvesting, and sharing for a dedicated group of Rhinebeck community members..

The Community Garden is "upgrading" in 2010 with a permanent water source, and the group is currently looking for new members. If you have always wanted to garden but don't have the space, consider having a plot in the protected confines of the Rhinebeck Community Garden, which is fenced to keep out deer.

The Community Garden steering committee encourages any Rhinebeck resident to join. "We are a diverse group, with a wide age range, from different backgrounds, ethnicities and walks of life. We share a passion for creating a beautiful, green, friendly space here in our community and welcome new members. There's a great sense of community and it's a great opportunity to make new friends, be outside, and eat delicious food!"

Members can rent a full plot (20' x 15') for $25 (half plots and scholarships are available) and agree to contribute several hours a month as a volunteer to help maintain the Community Garden. Volunteer jobs include general garden maintenance, organizing potlucks, keeping on top of garden supplies, doing outreach, helping with the community plot (whose harvests are donated to the Red Hook Food Pantry), etc.

Those interested in joining the Rhinebeck Community Garden can download an application and guidelines at www.winnakeeland.org or pick these up at the Starr Library (68 West Market Street). A limited number of plots are available and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Contact Raphael or Kim Notin at 876-6419.