Nothing promotes health and fitness more than growing and hoeing your own organic vegetable garden. And a number of Maplewood families and organizations will get a chance to do just that this growing season right behind Town Hall.

After an informational and organizational meeting was held at Town Hall on February 3, the Maplewood Community Garden project, organized by Irene Dunsavage and supported by Rutgers University Master Gardeners Program, is parcelling out lots and has found commitments for almost all spaces. 

"A time line has us putting in the beds in mid-late March," said Dunsavage. "A construction and diagramming committee is now working out the exact plot lines." The Garden will be placed in the square lawn just behind parking in the rear of Town Hall and below the greenhouses. A Web site for the project is under construction as well. 

Although a member of the Maplewood Garden Club raised questions about the location of the Community Garden (as posted in the Maplewoodian.com) concerning traffic, safety and blocking views of a memorial garden in front of the greenhouses, Dunsavage reported that the project has the full support of the Township Committee, which approved the Community Garden, its location and the acquisition of topsoil at a January Township Committee meeting. Mayor Vic DeLuca confirmed his support of the project and its location to Patch after the TC budget meeting on February 13.

Dunsavage pointed out that Jan Zientek of the Rutgers University Master Gardeners Program thoroughly researched several locations in Town and found that the lot behind Town Hall was optimal for several reasons including its flatness, accessibility and the fact that it received full sun exposure throughout the day—key to growing!

"At present we are totally immersed in planning for the construction of the raised beds and researching fencing possibilities with the South Orange Community Gardens," said Dunsavage. The Community Gardens project also involves a series of classes run by the Rutgers Extension as detailed in a previous article. The classes will be open to residents of Maplewood, South Orange and surrounding areas.

A plot will be set aside for children (Dunsavage hopes to work with a number of the schools) and other plots will be worked by Community Garden members for the purpose of donation of produce to local food pantries. Dunsavage is looking for sponsorship for these plots from area businesses. The Community Gardens project also hopes to plan art-related programs and special activities for Earth Day in April.

Plots cost $65 each ($40 rental and an additional $25 refundable fee when the plot is cleared in late fall). For more information, contact Dunsavage via e-mail.