
WEST HAVEN, March 31, 2014 —
Starting this spring, part of the former Anna V. Molloy School property
will be home to a new community garden that will provide 100 plant beds
for residents and West Haven students.
The West Haven Community Garden, which is a pending nonprofit
organization and run by volunteers, is now accepting applications from
those interested in having their own plot of land for a small cost. The
garden will designate beds for each of the West Haven School System’s
six elementary schools, and another will be set aside to grow food
donations for WHEAT, or the West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce.
West Haven resident Marilyn Wilkes, who is leading the
initiative, hopes kids will learn about gardening and agriculture both
through the elementary schools’ involvement and family garden plots.
“I’m really hoping a lot of families participate because it’s
fun and a lot of kids don’t understand about food coming out of the
ground versus getting it at the grocery store, and it really does
support science and math learning. It’s good all the way around,” she
said.
When she initially proposed the idea seven years ago to the
city and school district, she had planned for schools to play an
important role at the community garden. Superintendent of Schools Neil
C. Cavallaro said district Science Coordinator Raffaela Fronc is working
with elementary schools to incorporate the garden beds into the science
curriculum, since students study plants in the younger grades.
“I’m glad we were able to help Marilyn bring this idea to
fruition and that this project will give some new life to one of our old
school properties. What makes it even better is that our teachers and
students can create new and hands-on learning opportunities at the
garden, connecting what is being discussed in classrooms to real-life
experiences,” Cavallaro said.
He added that Edith E. Mackrille Elementary School has had a
bit of experience in this area, having installed raised beds in a school
courtyard after receiving a “teaching garden” grant from the American
Heart Association last fall.
“Mackrille’s students really enjoyed watering and harvesting
the plants and learning about the agricultural process. It’s great that
these kinds of lessons can now expand to our other schools,” Cavallaro
said.
There will also be educational programs for adults, according
to Wilkes. She hopes to organize various gardening workshops to show how
to grow your own vegetables and make meals more nutritious.
Wilkes said that in addition to Cavallaro, Mayor Edward M.
O’Brien and City Council members Michael Last and Nancy Rossi have been
extremely supportive of the community garden. She’s optimistic that
O’Brien will help the garden receive compost from the city composting
site, since that is the kind of fertilizer that will be encouraged at
the West Haven Community Garden. The garden will remain organic, Wilkes
said.
O’Brien said he’s looking forward to the garden’s official opening and that the initiative is a welcome addition to West Haven.
“This is a great place for our city. I applaud Marilyn for her
perseverance and thank her for her hard work in getting this community’s
garden up and running,” O’Brien said.
Wilkes has been working on launching the garden for the past
seven years, having worked to examine viable locations, receive advice
and approval from city boards and agencies, raise money, acquire
insurance, and gather a team of volunteers. The final step in getting
approval involved going before the City Council for a lease agreement in
March.
Later this month, Wilkes, volunteers and supporters will have a
“groundbreaking” for the garden before digging up the ground, creating
plots and walkways, and installing a fence and irrigation system.
She initially raised the idea of a community garden in West
Haven after hearing about the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” national
gardening program.
“I had no idea it would take me on such a lengthy journey,” she
said. “I’m hoping it really fosters a kind of cool, diverse community.
It’s a great opportunity for residents to come together, grow great
food, and learn from one another.”
Plots are $30 each, or $20 each for seniors 65 and older. They
will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis by April 30. For
details and an application, visit http://whcommunitygarden.com or the West Haven Parks and Recreation Department.
Contact: Communications Director Susan Misur, 203-937-4300 X7114