Courthouse Community Garden Journal
From the beginning, March - May 2009

The concept of a community garden in Salem has been an idea for a few years, at least, but it wasn’t until this year that it became a reality.  Inspired by the many community gardens growing around the nation and especially the new White House Kitchen Garden started this year, a group of interested individuals initiated the project under the umbrella of the Courthouse Community Center.  The Courthouse Community Garden is now located adjacent to the Courthouse Community Center campus on East Broadway.

March 2009

A group of people started discussing the possibility of a community garden in Salem.  Woody Hill Farm was approached about the use of a portion of a field on East Broadway, adjacent to the Courthouse Community Center campus.  The appeal of this location is the proximity to Salem Washington Academy, and it would offer the opportunity to involve students at the school.  The Courthouse Community Garden (CCG) has a visible and large (25’ x 320’) home, a total of 8,000 square feet -- Thank you, Woody Hill for your generosity in allowing us to use this space!

A mission statement was developed, with one of the primary goals to grow food in the 2009 season that would be given to the Salem Food Pantry – the garden would provide a venue for building connections with nature and food for the region.

Heather Bellanca graciously created and donated a lovely, colorful logo for CCG, and we started thinking about our website design with Sara Kelly.

CCG applied for a grant of seeds from The America the Beautiful Fund and received a few hundred packets of vegetables, flowers and herbs.

April 2009

Activity is the word to describe April.  Members from the CCG working group met with grades K-6 elementary students at Salem Central School during their Character Education assemblies.  The theme for the month was “Consideration” which tied into Earth Day, consideration for the earth, and consideration for your neighbors.  The message resonated with the students who all liked the idea of starting seeds to plant in the garden, and helping with the harvest and bringing the fresh produce to the Salem Food Pantry.

Amy Maxwell arrived on a chilly morning with high school students from one of her agriculture classes to perform soil testing.  PH tests were done with kits from Cornell Cooperative Extension Washington County, with the students noting the readings.  A more extensive composite soil test was performed and sent out for analysis by Cornell.

Students in grade K-6 started seeds in their classrooms – the enthusiasm for the project is infectious.  Teachers and staff at the school have been very helpful with this project.   They took the seeds and the soil that was donated by Gardenworks, and created their own planting pots with newspaper -- the seedlings, nestled in these newspaper pots will be able to be planted directly in the garden beds.  We were lucky enough to catch Brian Talmadge’s 6th grade class, starting hot pepper seeds – the students were given some history of the plant, discussed uses for hot peppers beyond culinary, and learned about the Scoville scale.

Janet Britt from Agricultural Stewardship Association and Meg Southerland and the Gardenworks crew have been starting seeds for the garden, rounding out the garden plantings.

Paul Tomlinson brought his skill and tractor to CCG, plowing and tilling the garden – a great step in seeing the garden on its way to planting!  Dave Linendoll brought his brightly colored tractor to spread aged manure from Woody Hill, and provided further tilling. Jeff Tracy from Salem Art Works started the repair of the picnic tables that will be used by Lunch-n-Learn and various CCG activities throughout the summer season.

May 2009

Over a dozen volunteers spent many hours during the first weekend in May creating about 80 raised beds – discussion about programs in and around the garden, our community, and overall great conversation!

A & J Agway has donated approximately $1,000 worth of garden equipment and supplies – a garden cart, rakes, shovels, hoes, hand shovels, trowels, spades, pruning shears, watering hoses, wire, garden twine garden stakes, supports, asparagus root, as well as boots and gloves for the smaller gardeners that will be helping us throughout the season.  Many, many thanks!

Jay Bellanca and Joe Childs came to clear the area of large rocks, marble, and level a strip of land between the garden and the barn so that it can be easily mowed throughout the season. Nancy Higby and Charlie Burd have spread fresh, chopped straw (donated by Woody Hill Farm) between the beds and along the garden pathways – each of them have also planted some perennials in the garden – it’s looking green!

Heather Bellanca has designed a temporary sign to be placed facing East Broadway – Erich Kranz and Jamie Higby constructed the sign out of lumber and supplies donated by A & J Agway.  Susi Trombley has started priming and painting the sign, readying for logo and acknowledgments.

We’re also on our way to having local students start work in the garden through the Washington County EOC program, and we’re excited that they will be able to help us during the season!

The beds are being planted each day and the rain is being cooperative!  We’re getting ready for our big Planting Day with students and teachers from Salem Central School on Friday, June 5th  between 1 pm and 2 pm.  (Rain date Monday, June 8th between 1 pm and 2 pm).  All of the seeds started by nearly 300 elementary students and teachers from Salem Washington Academy will be planted in the garden.

Other youth through area churches are starting seeds and will be planting their seedlings on an upcoming June day with help from Pastor Donna at the First United Presbyterian Church in Salem.

All and all, we’ve made great progress to seeing the Courthouse Community Garden become a reality – it doesn’t get much better!

Please check back often for updates and CCG-related activities – or visit us at the garden!

Salem, NY – On Friday, June 5th, over 300 elementary students, teachers and staff from Salem Central School planted seedlings in the Courthouse Community Garden. The seeds, started by the students in their classrooms, helped fill the 80 beds that comprise the Courthouse Community Garden in Salem, New York with vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

In addition to planting the seedlings in the raised beds, the students enjoyed a visit from Executive Chef Noah Sheetz, from the Executive Mansion in Albany. The chef noted that they have a garden at the Executive Mansion, where he draws inspiration for fresh, seasonal cooking, and that he participates in a community garden in Albany, as well. Chef Sheetz spoke to the students about the importance of healthful eating, gardening, and praised them for the great work they’re doing for their community.

The Courthouse Community Garden (CCG) was initiated by a group of individuals under the umbrella of the Courthouse Community Center and is located adjacent to the Courthouse Community Center campus on East Broadway, across from the Salem Central School/Washington Academy. Woody Hill Farm has generously allowed CCG to use a large parcel (8,000 square feet) that has been transformed into 80 beds for planting. A wide variety of vegetables and herbs are being planted with seeds granted from the America the Beautiful Fund.

The fresh harvest from the garden will be donated to the Salem Food Pantry and the garden will provide additional programming opportunities with the Courthouse summer Lunch-n-Learn program. Produce will also be used in conjunction with a variety of upcoming Battenkill Kitchen classes throughout the summer and harvest season. In its broadest definition, the Courthouse Community Garden will offer numerous opportunities to build connections with nature and food for the region.

In addition to the help received from the Salem Central School/Washington Academy students, teachers, and staff in Salem, Janet Britt from Agriculture Stewardship Association has started a few hundred seeds for planting, A & J Agway has donated garden tools and supplies, Gardenworks has provided soil and supplies for the seed starting at the school, and Cornell Cooperative Extension has facilitated initial soil tests that were performed by an agriculture class at Salem High School. The Courthouse Community Garden working group is also partnering with Washington County EOC to employ eligible high school students to work in the garden throughout the summer season.

Other contributions and donations from the National Peanut Board, Carovail, Nancy Hand Higby Garden Design, Salem Hardware, Glens Falls Hospital and Salem Family Health Center, Salem Rotary, MilkHouse Artworks and a number of individuals who have helped build and paint the garden sign, till the soil, prep the beds, plant, weed and tend have made this a true community project.

If you would like to help in the garden throughout the season, call Annette Nielsen at 854.9777. For further information on the Courthouse Community Garden, please visit www.salemcourthouse.org.