Long Island's community gardens are sow good
One member of the Hallockville Community Garden in Riverhead displays some of his bounty in a basket nearby his plot. (2009) Credit: Handout
Community gardens are popping up on Long Island like weeds after a rainstorm. These are spaces where you can claim a plot of land for a season to grow whatever suits your fancy (as long as it's legal) and keep what you harvest. It's an ideal setup for those who dream of tending to rows of heirloom tomatoes but don't have the space in their own backyard to sow the seeds.
"I've done it for the last 15 years and look forward to it every spring," says Patty Rauchut, 54, who owns a massage therapy center in Great Neck. "I grow herbs, catnip, basil, all different kinds of lettuce, squash, peas, cucumbers."
HOW IT WORKS
Community gardens are open for gardeners of all skill levels. A water source is provided - all you need are seeds or plants and the zest to nurture.
Many gardens are organic and require their growers to follow suit by using only on-site mulch, compost or natural fertilizer in their plots. Some invite gardeners to donate some of the produce to a food pantry. All ask growers to respectfully refrain from pilfering crops from neighboring plots.
Here's a look at community garden sites that still have land available this year, in alphabetical order by town.
BROOKHAVEN
Where: Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Brookhaven, 631-451-6968
Eligibility: Town of Brookhaven residents
Cost: Free
Plot size: 10-foot by 5-foot, 4-foot-by-4-foot
The small space has just a handful of raised beds, which are watered by the town's lawn sprinkler system - but staffers say the garden may be expanded if there's interest from growers.
DEER PARK
Where: Edith Salzer Organic Community Garden, 808 Nicholls Rd., 631-957-7474
Eligibility: Deer Park residents
Cost: $10 ($5 ages 60 and older)
Plot size: 10 feet by 30 feet and 10 feet by 15 feet
Fifty-five plots are available.
EAST HAMPTON
Where: Long Lane, administered by East End Community Organic, 631-329-4694, eecofarm.org
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: $175 ($125 for a second plot after your first year)
Plot size: 20 feet by 20 feet
Growers plant in raised beds following organic gardening practices. "We have a spread from millionaires to people who have trouble coming up with $175," says master gardener Peter Garnham. "The thing they have in common is that they want to grow their own food, food they can trust."
GREAT NECK
Where: 105 Clover Dr., through the Great Neck Adult Education Program, 516-773-1720
Eligibility: Great Neck residents only
Cost: $50 per year
Plot size: 10 feet by 20 feet
Growers must make or bring in their own organic compost.
HUNTINGTON
Where: Dunlop and Greenlawn roads, 631-351-3186
Eligibility: Huntington residents
Cost: $25 ($15 ages 62 and older)
Plot size: 20-foot-by-30-foot plots at Robert M. Kubecka Memorial Organic Garden; 5-foot-by-20-foot and 4-foot-by-20-foot plots at Clifford Soergel Outreach Garden (vegetable donation only).
"This place is such a diamond in the rough. It is so peaceful coming out here," says longtime gardener Kathleen Kufs, 50. Free seeds and seedlings are available for those growing donation crops at the Outreach Garden. A master gardener is often on-site and some raised beds are handicapped accessible.
NEW SUFFOLK
Where: Foot of Main Street, 631-566-0806, newsuffolkwaterfront.org
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Plot size: At least 3 feet by 6 feet
Farmer K.K. Haspel of The Farm in Southold will teach participants biodynamic growing methods in raised beds.
PATCHOGUE / BELLPORT
Where: 510 Narragansett Ave., East Patchogue, 631-286-6356
Eligibility: Patchogue and Bellport residents
Cost: Free
Plot size: 10 feet by 4 feet
The space has raised beds - including some that are handicapped accessible. Growers are asked to refrain from planting genetically modified seeds.
RIVERHEAD
Where: Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., 631-298-5292, hallockville.com
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: $50
Plot size: 20 feet by 20 feet
In-ground plots only and growers aren't permitted to plant perennials, trees or bushes.
SOUTHOLD
Where: Charnews Farm, 3005 Youngs Ave. and Hortons Lane, 631-283-3195, peconiclandtrust.org
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: $50-$100
Plot size: 4-foot-by-12-foot raised beds
"We're trying to teach people to grow eight months a year in a small area," says coordinator Denise Markut. The garden is fenced to protect plants from deer - and the soil is prepared by members of the Peconic Land Trust.
WYANDANCH
Where: 20 N. 14th St. (through Town of Babylon), 631-957-7430
Eligibility: Wyandanch residents
Cost: Free
Plot size: 5 feet by 10 feet, 4 feet by 10 feet and 3 feet by 10 feet
Free seeds and starter plants are available for growers at this 20-plot community garden.
