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May 25, 2009

Community Garden off to budding start

By JEFF MEYERS

PLATTSBURGH — Adam Crosley has spent winters in the Alaskan outback, but he found himself far removed from those dog-sledding days as he worked on his plot at the Plattsburgh Community Garden Monday.

Crosley was one of several gardeners — amateur and expert — who participated in opening-day ceremonies for the new garden located at Bailey Avenue Park.

“I live in an apartment complex and have nowhere to plant at home,” said Crosley, who first became interested in the concept of a community garden while taking classes at Plattsburgh State.

“I’m a first-time gardener,” he said. “I’ve never done this before, but I’m excited about trying something new.”

Jessica and Mike Bordeau are also fairly new to gardening and decided to give the Community Garden a try with their three sons, Dominick, 9, Nate, 7, and Ben, 5.

“We have a small yard,” Jessica said. “We thought this would be a good way to learn about gardening and get the kids interested in it. It’s also a good way to put a little extra food on our table.”

Jessica’s dad, Bernie Blew, was also on hand to add his expertise and to suggest a variety of vegetables for the family to choose for planting.

Gardeners of all ages spent time tilling the soil, planting varieties of seeds and placing starter plants into the raised plant beds on property that had years ago been a baseball field for the City Little League.

“They’d been talking about this for years, and I always thought it was a fantastic idea,” said Lonnie Fairchild as she worked on her 100 square-foot garden plot. “I plant a little bit in a small yard with no sun, so I thought this would be a wonderful idea.”

She also appreciated the level of expertise that was available as newcomers to gardening worked side-by-side with seasoned experts.

In fact, Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulture expert Anne Lenox-Barlow was working with her family on a plot and offered her time to answer any questions her fellow community gardeners may have raised.

The Memorial Day holiday allowed time for the gardeners to reflect on the significance of a Community Garden.

“We’re here today to dedicate the garden to the health of the community,” said Doug Butdorf, chair of the Plattsburgh Community Garden organizing group, adding that a portion of vegetables raised will be donated to the Interfaith Food Shelf.

He also praised the location, emphasizing the benefit that the garden will be in full sunlight during the day, a big plus for the 32 individual plots owned by city residents.

Butdorf’s wife, Jessamyn Neuhaus, officially opened the garden’s growing season with a group prayer.

“We have come together — people of different ages and different faiths, people from different backgrounds and different life experiences — to plant a garden dedicated to community health and environmental stewardship,” she said.

Although all plots are taken for this season, Butdorf said he believes the concept will grow with an even larger community effort next year.

“It’s nice to see the community come together for this,” said City Recreation Director Steven Peters, noting that the Recreation Department will oversee the garden just like it does with youth sports leagues: a hands-on operation run by the community members.



E-mail Jeff Meyers at:

jmeyers@pressrepublican.com

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