Maybe it's the green movement, maybe it's the economy, but the idea of starting community gardens—where residents can lease small plots of land to raise and harvest their own vegetables—is finally gaining traction locally.

Jan Zientek has been working with the Rutgers University Master Gardeners Program for eight years, but has found that only in the last 18 months is he attracting steady interest from towns and groups in Essex County that want to start community gardens.

Now underway are community gardens in Verona, South Orange (possibly in the Waterlands) and Nutley. Up and running are the gardens at the VA Hospital in East Orange. And new this year in Montclair: A community garden at the Presby Iris Gardens which are now owned and run by the County. Volunteers are working the land behind the house at Presby Gardens to grow food that will be donated to local food pantries upon harvest. 

Into this list, add Maplewood. Amidst budget discussions and talk of departmental mergers, the Township Committee approved the Maplewood Community Gardens project as presented by Irene Dunsavage (who taught art at Clinton School for 26 years until retiring last June). The project is a win-win-win: it's green, it's community-oriented and it's low- to no-cost. The town need only provide the space and the time, fuel and labor of having Public Works pick up free topsoil from Presby Iris Gardens.

Rutgers Master Gardeners Program pays for Zientek and fees pay for the classes and other maintenance and materials. 

Dunsavage decided to endeavor to bring a community gardening program to Maplewood while working on her Master Gardener certification at Rutgers. One project for her class was Presby Gardens. In addition, her daughter in Philadelphia lives next to a vacant lot that has been converted into a community garden. "I saw it change through the seasons. I saw the camaraderie of the families."

And Dunsavage thought, "We could do this here." She had Rutgers look at its database and saw that 30 Maplewoodians have received Master Gardener certification from Rutgers. "There is a natural match."

Rutgers will provide seven to ten classes starting this February to be led by Zientek and held in Town Hall. The fee for the classes will be $25/person. Dunsavage hopes to use the greenhouses behind Town Hall for propagation. "It needs to be an organic garden," she said. "No pesticides."

The program will need at least 20 families or groups to subscribe in order to move forward. (Dunsavage is hoping some churches, schools or after-school programs will sign up.) Unlike Presby Gardens, the Maplewood Community Gardens will have lots run by individual groups and families who will then be able to harvest and distribute or use their produce at their own discretion.

Dunsavage says that, through Zientek's classes, gardeners will learn about soil preparation, pest control, how to stake tomatoes, string up beans, the works.

While Dunsavage and Zientek initially identified the flat square of land directly behind the parking at Town Hall and in front of the greenhouses (the plot has equal access to sun, is highly visible and centrally located and is unlikely to be vandalized). However, they are also looking at other spaces—possibly at the Maplewood Community Pool or in Maplecrest Park.

Interested residents can find out more at Maplewood Town Hall on February 3, 2010, at 7 p.m. Zientek will discuss organic gardening as well as a list of guidelines, fees and how the system of community gardening benefits everyone. Fore more information, contact Zientek or Dunsavage.