A day touring community and school

gardens in northern Vermont

July 25, 2007
The ten gardens visited on July 25, 2007
are among the 100+ member gardens in the
Vermont Community Garden Network.

The photo story that follows reveals a

window into the lives of the gardens and
gardeners as they basked in the sunlight
of a beautiful mid summer day in Vermont.

by Jim Flint

1
Vermont Community Garden Network tour route VCGN tour route with stops – July 25, 2007
Northern Vermont - July 25, 2007
130 miles

2
 .
The half acre garden site was established in the 1970s at Fort Ethan Allen
8:00 a.m. – Colchester – Fort Ethan Allen Community Garden
and is one of the oldest community gardens in Vermont.

3
 .
The garden is managed by Sonni Orsini, who also coordinates graduate
student housing for the University of Vermont. A 2006 VCGN mini-grant helped the gardeners purchase a tool shed.

4
Garden plots are rented out each spring to residents of Fort Ethan Allen.
An email list serv helps coordinators and gardeners to stay in touch. 9:00 a.m. – Essex Junction – Meadow Terrace Community Garden

5
Meadow Terrace was established in 2005. The site is managed by Essex The community garden is adjacent to the Essex Technical Center. The
Junction Recreation & Parks and coordinated by Tim Schonholtz. gardeners used a 2007 VCGN mini-grant to purchase a load of compost.

6
9:30 a.m. – Jeffersonville VT – Cambridge Elementary School The Seeds of Sustainability Garden is just a short walk from the school.

7
The school garden project was started in the 2006 by a group of sixth Bins for organic composting tie in with the sustainability theme.
grade students and University of Vermont intern Jessica Ridgeway.

8
 The JSC Community Garden was started in 2007 by Green Solutions, a
10:00 a.m. – Johnson VT – Johnson State College Community Garden campus environmental group, to provide fresh produce for students.

9
Green Solutions President, Elizabeth Wiren, worked with fellow students, A 2007 VCGN mini-grant was used by the gardeners to purchase
faculty, and staff to plant the garden and construct a deer fence. compost, fencing, and sign materials.

10
 The Garden of Life was started in 2005. The garden is integrated into the
10:30 a.m. – Johnson Elementary School’s Garden of Life
school curriculum, the after school program, and summer programming.

11
VCGN mini-grants received by the Garden of Life in 2006 and 2007 were
used for compost, a garden sign, and raised bed construction. 11:15 a.m. – Eden VT – The Little Garden in Eden

12
The Little Garden in Eden is in its third year as part of the Eden Central Eden gardeners used a 2007 VCGN mini-grant to purchase two rain
School after school and summer programs. barrels and materials for a student designed and painted garden sign.

13
Each year a little more space is added to the garden, which has become noon – Morrisville VT – The Children’s Community Wellness Garden
a beautiful setting for students and staff to visit and share lunch. Lamoille County Mental Health Services Division of Children, Youth & Families

14
Led by garden coordinator Ifetayo White, DCYF children, youths, and A bulletin board shares the progress of the Children’s Wellness Garden
staff worked together to design, construct, and plant the raised beds. which was established with the help of a 2007 VCGN mini-grant.

15
 Stowe Assistant Recreation Director Brian Kaplan secured approval to
2:00 p.m. – Stowe VT – Stowe Community Garden – opening 2008 establish the new community garden on town land.

16
Community gardening will help preserve the agricultural use of the land. 3:45 p.m. – Waterbury VT – Waterbury Community Garden

17
The garden site is located on town land adjacent to recreation fields. Alletta Hale has coordinated the community garden for the past 25 years.

18
4:30 p.m. – Richmond VT – Vermont Youth Conservation Corps VYCC members created organic planting beds and constructed a three
bin composting system for their new community garden.

19
A look back at community and school gardening in northern Vermont
July 25, 2007

A day touring community and school gardens in

northern Vermont -- July 25, 2007

produced by

Friends of Burlington Gardens

180 Flynn Avenue Studio 3
PO Box 4504
Burlington, VT 05406-4504

to learn more about the

Vermont Community Garden Network
or to make a gift of support
please visit
www.burlingtongardens.org

20