A photo story of a visit on August
24, 2010
to 20 school and community gardens in Northern Vermont
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by Jim Flint, Friends of
Burlington Gardens
Click here for
burlingtongardens.org home page
8:00
a.m. August 24, 2010. The day tour begins at the Underhill Community
Garden in Underhill Center, Vermont.
Tall
deer fencing surrounds the carefully tended school community garden
behind the Underhill Central School.
A
whimsical sculpture at the center of the garden catches the visitor's
eye.
Raised
beds bursting with flowers and vegetables are framed with ancient barn
timbers in true Vermont spirit! 
8:45
a.m. Located at Cambridge Elementary School in Jeffersonville, the
Cambridge Connections Garden is affiliated with Green Mountain Farm to
School.
Corn,
beans, and squash - the Three Sisters - are among the vegetables grown
in the school community garden.
9:15
a.m. The Waterville School Garden is located on Rt. 109 between
Belvidere and Waterville. The garden received a VCGN mini-grant in 2009.
Beautiful
savoy cabbages await harvest by Waterville Elementary School students
when they return to classes. The school community garden is affiliated
with Green Mountain Farm to School. 
9:40
a.m. The Little Garden in Eden occupies a sunny meadow adjacent to Eden
Central School. The garden received a VCGN mini-grant in 2007.
The
garden is designed to be a parklike outdoor classroom with flowers,
vegetables, birdhouses, and a greenhouse.
10:00
a.m. Located north of Eden on Rt 100, the Lowell Graded School
Community Garden is affiliated with Green Mountain Farm to School. 
This
productive and beautiful school community garden includes walkways and
a sturdy tool shed. The garden received a VCGN mini-grant in 2008.
Huge
heads of purple cauliflower will soon find their way into the cafeteria
at Lowell Graded School.
10:30
a.m. The Jay/Westfield School Garden was the first garden site
developed by Green Mountain Farm to School.
The
Jay/Westfield School Garden has an eat the rainbow theme. The garden
received a 2007 VCGN mini-grant.
10:45
a.m. The Troy School Roots and Fruits Garden is located in the village
of North Troy. The garden is affilliated with Green Mountain Farm to
School.
The
school community garden has a town green feel to it, occupying a slope
that overlooks the school.
An
old school bell surrounded by flowers adds a sense of history to the
garden. The Troy School Garden received a VCGN mini-grant in 2008.
11:00
a.m. Newport Town School is located in Newport Center. 
The
first year vegetable garden in front of the school is affiliated with
Green Mountain Farm to School.
11:20
a.m. The Coventry School Garden of Life occupies a space similar in
size to a baseball diamond. The garden received a VCGN mini-grant in
2008. 
A
cedar trellis gate frames the entrance to the garden, which is
affiliated with Green Mountain Farm to School. 
A
noontime break at the Newport Community Garden in Gardner Park. The
community garden is enjoying a successful first year.
Master
Gardener Annie Holdridge stands beside a new tool shed built with
support from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund and the Boy
Scouts.
A
colorful garden bulletin board orients visitors and gardeners to what's
new. The Gardner Park Community Garden was awarded a VCGN mini-grant in
2009.
The
garden includes a mixture of raised beds constructed with and without
timber frames. 
The
green roof of the tool shed at Gardner Park is covered with colorful
portulaca in full bloom.
The
Newport Community Garden includes a special mentoring program matching
veteran gardeners with new gardeners.
Executive
director Katherine Sims and the staff of Green Mountain Farm to School
enjoy a visit to the Newport Community Garden.
1:40
p.m. The Derby Community Garden is located on land adjacent to North
Country Union Junior High School in Derby Center. 
The
school community garden includes a mix of plots and program gardens.
The garden expanded in 2009 with help from a VCGN mini-grant.
Adult
offenders assist with work projects at the Derby Community Garden
through a special community service program.
With
its picnic tables and welcoming archway, the Derby Community Garden
provides a beautiful setting for farm to school activities.
2:15
p.m. The Orleans Elementary School Garden has an active Summer Sprouts
Program sponsored by Green Mountain Farm to School .
The
Orleans Elementary School Garden received a 2009 VCGN mini-grant.
2:35
p.m. With its village location, the Barton Senior Center Community
Garden is an important source of fresh produce for community members. 
The
Barton Senior Center Community Garden received a VCGN mini-grant in
2008.
3:00
p.m. A colorful sign welcomes gardeners and visitors to the Glover
School Garden. The garden is affiliated with Green Mountain Farm to
School.
During
my visit, a family stops by to tend the school community garden.
A
site map helps garden tenders to identify vegetables for harvest.
The
garden is filled with teachable moments as the family harvests
vegetables. 
The
taste of summer sunshine in a freshly picked and eaten cherry tomato!
4:00
p.m. The Hardwick Community Garden, started in 2006, was one of the
first projects of the Center for an Agricultural Economy.
The
Hardwick Community Garden received VCGN mini-grants in 2006, 2007, and
2008.
A
digging area at the garden provides a place for young children to use
their imaginations in creative play. 
4:25
p.m. The Morristown Elementary School Garden was established in 2008
with help from a VCGN mini-grant.
The
raised bed gardens are overflowing with beautiful fresh produce ready
to harvest.
5:15
p.m. Located on town land, the Worcester Community Garden was
established in 2009 with help from a VCGN mini-grant.
Though
the community garden has struggled in its first two growing seasons,
plants and gardeners are persevering!
6:00
p.m. Driving down Rt 12, I spot an informal community garden on private
land. The site is known locally as the Montpelier Community Garden.
The
plowed field is marked off into plots in the spring. Gardeners carry
water by hand from a nearby brook. 
6:15
p.m. The North Branch Community Garden is located north of Montpelier
on land owned by the VINS Nature Center. 
The
North Branch Community Garden expanded from 20 plots to 60 plots in
1997 with help from a VCGN mini-grant.
7:10
p.m. Last stop of the day at the Waterbury Community Garden. The garden
was established in the 1970s on town land behind the library.
Waterbury
Community Gardeners Tony, Aerow, and Jeswin share a moment in their
garden with me before we all make our way home for supper. 
Thank
you for joining me on this photo day trip of 20 community and school
gardens in Vermont. 
