Garden Plans

Salem, NY – The Courthouse Community Garden announces Planting Day on Friday, June 5 from 1 pm to 2 pm (rain date Monday, June 8, same time) when nearly 300 elementary students in grades K-6 will be planting the seedlings they started with their teachers in the classrooms at Salem Central School/Washington Academy in Salem, NY.

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.

The public is invited to celebrate Planting Day on Friday, June 5 from 1 pm to 2 pm (rain date June 8, same time).  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.