Land Trust and Harpswell Get Christmas Gift

HARPSWELL: Just before Christmas, the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust received a gift of $100,000 for the purpose of establishing and supporting community gardens in Harpswell. That is a lot of Christmas cheer!

Community gardens are places where individuals can be assigned a plot of land to cultivate for whatever purpose they wish—legal purpose that is! All the plots together at a given location make up a community garden. They are generally managed by volunteers, often the gardeners themselves, and range from wildlife gardens to fruit, flower and vegetable gardens. Community gardens can provide opportunities to grow food, educate youngsters and others about gardening and nature, and strengthen community relationships. They are places where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together for fun, recreation and growing good food.

Harpswell’s Community Gardens are to be available for use by all residents, winter and summer, of Harpswell. Exact locations will depend upon availability of suitable sites and the degree of local interest. The intent of the Trust is to make them as accessible as possible by locating them in or near Harpswell’s villages.

The donor of the gift has expressed the desire that the gardens be handicapped accessible, be utilized as learning opportunities for Harpswell school children, and promote organic gardening practices.

Any one who is interested in helping to organize a community garden in their neighborhood should contact the Land Trust by mail at PO Box 359 Harpswell ME 04079, by phone at 833-5566, or by email at info@hhltmaine.org.