Community gardens on Long Island

Community gardens, sites where individuals can garden in plots on public spaces, have been cropping up all across Long Island in the past few years.

Not that familiar with gardening? Some gardens offer preseason orientation and gardening help throughout the growing season. Registration for plots may have started as early as January or February, but gardens generally accept members as long as spaces are available. If there is a fee, it is nominal — usually less than $50 — and many gardens waive the fee for low-income applicants.

Newer gardens often prepare the beds for first-timers and novice gardeners. Some provide seeds, seedlings and loaner tools. And, to assure organic and sustainable practices, many gardens have a supply of mulch and compost on-site.

“We want our gardeners to use as many organic practices as possible,” says Jim Romansky, a founding member of the Hallockville Museum Farm Community Garden in Riverhead, whose members meet regularly to discuss gardening practices and find noncommercial solutions to gardening problems. “If you’re not going to try to follow organic practices, you might as well go down to the grocery store.”

Here’s a rundown of LI’s community gardens:

Established in the 1970s, this organic garden has a waiting list, and most plots become open only when someone moves out of the area. “We have gardeners who have been with us since the garden started in the early ’70s,” says coordinator Una Corr. “We probably have one or two new people who come in every year.”

This community garden follows a cooperative process, with members making up the rules and deciding such things as whether there will be a farm stand and which gardening classes will be offered.

The garden offers a combination of gardening and cooking classes throughout the growing season, and will host a harvest festival in October.

A master gardener from Cornell Cooperative Extension will be on site from 4-6 p.m. every Thursday. Members of the community can visit the garden to attend nutrition and gardening classes or take part in the Merch Haven walking club. 
“We’re taking a holistic approach to the garden and the space,” says administrator Joan Avolese-Mannino of the push to offer a varied slate of programming at the garden.

In addition to training, the community garden provides members with free seedlings and loaner tools. The 11-acre farm also grows about 20,000 pounds of food yearly for Long Island charities and hosts an educational garden for schoolchildren and to showcase gardening techniques.

"Drip irrigation is our big draw this year," says Elizabeth Takakjian, garden coordinator.

The garden, which opened in 2011, offers instruction on seed-harvesting and preserving food. Genetically-modified seeds are not allowed at this garden.

In addition to the community garden, there are working farmers and beekeepers who lease land at this organic farm, which provides farm-made compost to gardeners and farmers. "The thing all our gardeners have in common is that they want to grow their own food, food they can trust," says Peter Garnham, a master gardener.

This 16-acre site serves two needs. Kubecka is strictly a community garden. Clifford Soergel offers both pantry garden plots for donation and plots with preference given to low-income residents.
Around since the 1970s, many of Kubecka’s gardeners have had the same plot for three or more years, with some having added personal touches such as signs, seating and makeshift fences.
Renovation of Clifford Soergel was started in the offseason, and is scheduled to be complete by mid-May. These include raised beds, handicap accessibility and a children’s garden.

The garden, which started in 2011, is in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. “We want to teach the community the health benefits of growing your own food,” says Joan Moran, garden co-coordinator. The space hosts both the community garden and a school garden where Hampton Bays students learn to garden.

While not certified organic, this garden does follow organic practices. Fee-based gardening classes for adults are offered in the spring and fall.

 COST Free

Rising up on the hill next to New York Avenue/Route 110, this community garden is designed to also be a gathering place, hosting potlucks and socialize-and-work days. It also has permanent picnic tables and a mural. 

Started in 2011, this organic garden is seeking members. It is working with Cornell Cooperative Extension, which will offer classes throughout the growing season. 

In addition to the large community garden, this facility has a kitchen garden and a pantry garden (61 Shirley Lane, Medford) maintained by the Believe and Achieve Advantage after-school program for culinary students. The kitchen garden is part of the Cornerstone Church Community Cafe.

COST $25 for a half row, $40 for a full row, plus a $10 fee to cover water usage

"Superstorm Sandy knocked us around a bit," says Linda Auriemma, who handles communication for the garden. "We had a lot of rocks showing and had to do soil testing. The soil is good but we had to do some extra composting."

This community garden offers cooking demos, gardening classes and workshops throughout the season based on gardeners’ interests and requests.

In its second year, this is an active community garden. In addition to member potlucks, this garden works to bring the community into the garden through fundraisers and classes.

"We're hosting educational classes where people can learn even if they're not members of the community garden," says Beth Motschenbacher, Hallockville assistant director. They'll offer a four-part series on canning and preserving; as well as stand-alone classes on canning, freezing, drying, making jellies and home canning. They'll also host a seed-saving class June 2 and a tomato tasting Aug. 18, both led by Invincible Summer Farms' Steph Gaylor, who grows more than 300 varieties of tomatoes.

.WHERE River and Roots, West Main Street, at the south end of Griffing Avenue,

“If we had four gardens, we could fill them with gardeners. Until then, we just want to include others in the community in any way we can,” says Davidson of the generous practice. And, this year they're adding a children's play area adjacent to the garden.

Cornell Cooperative Extension will conduct canning and nutrituion classes throughout the season. Stony Brook University will host gardening classes on site as well.

 COST Free

Free seeds available while supplies last. Gardeners also can take part in gardening classes through the Growers Market of Copiague. While not certified organic, this garden does follow organic and sustainable practices.