Contributed Photo
A Scout caring for a community garden in Derby.
ANSONIA — With spring upon us, there are lots of opportunities to get some fresh vegetables this coming season. Enrollment is now open to get involved with one of thirteen community gardens across all five towns in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. With a little bit of guidance, participants can drop by the gardens at their convenience to water, weed and harvest produce to take home. There is no cost to get involved.
Installed by Valley United Way, community gardens were established (or upgraded) in Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton and Oxford to serve as a resource of fresh vegetables where neighbors either lack transportation or access to a standard supermarket.
However, in the spring of 2020, Valley United Way reached out to Massaro Community Farm, an organic vegetable farm on the border of Ansonia and Woodbridge, to take over management of the gardens.
Massaro donates thousands of pounds of organic vegetables each to hunger relief agencies and provides farm-to-school education to students in Ansonia and Derby. Valley hunger relief partners include Ansonia’s Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul (Derby), Spooner House (Shelton) and Kathleen Samela Food Bank at Christ Episcopal Church (Ansonia). Thirty volunteers turned out last year to help plant and manage the gardens.
Garden volunteers are supplied with all materials for growing, including seeds, seedlings, compost and tools. Returning volunteers from 2020 also hope to hold several beginner gardening instruction sessions at the farm to get newcomers or those lacking a “green thumb” off to a good start. Each garden has also been equipped with a posted QR code so garden visitors can check in electronically to let the farm know when someone has been stopped by to water or harvest. Any produce not harvested will be gleaned and added to the farm’s weekly donations to food pantries.
Statistics show that urban green spaces improve physical and mental health. In addition to serving as a resource of fresh vegetables, gardens are a great hands-on learning tool for families, reduce pollution, provide a safe place to socialize and offer a welcome break from the all the screen time we’ve been suffering from since the onset of the pandemic.
Interested individuals and groups are asked to call the farm office at 203 – 736-8618 or visit their website at www.MassaroFarm.org where you can complete an online form of interest. You’ll then be paired up with a garden location that’s most convenient for you.
The farm also welcomes volunteers to serve as a Garden Leader. A Garden Leader simply keeps an eye on the overall health of the garden, keeping the farm informed of any needs that arise.
