ThisWeek Reynoldsburg 04/26/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/reynoldsburg/news/2012/04/26/gardeners-donate-to-local-pantry.html

The Reynoldsburg Parks and Recreation Department is looking to grow on past success with this year’s community gardens.

“This is our third year for the community gardens on Livingston, which is an award-winning garden,” Parks and Recreation secretary Mary Beth Hudson said. “After our first year, we won a Governor’s Award for it, so since that was so successful, we added another garden at the Civic Park.”
According to Hudson, this will be the second year for the Civic Park garden.

The Livingston Avenue garden is located behind the firehouse.

Between the two community gardens, there are a total of 44 full plots; some plots can be divided. Currently, there are five full and two half-plots still available at Livingston and 25 full plots available at the Civic Park garden, she said.

“The gardens opened April 1, but basically, people can rent one as long as one is available until the gardens close in November,” Hudson said. “New plot owners will get their plots tilled when they move in, but gardeners are responsible for putting beds to winter at the end of the season.”

The gardens include compost bins on both sides of the sites; water is provided.

“One of our big focuses is to help others, so last year, our gardeners donated over 1,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Helping Hands Food Pantry,” Hudson said. “We have a dedicated core of volunteers that help out with communications, donations and maintaining the compost bins, so we really appreciate them for making this successful.”

Hudson said fees for a garden plot are $30 for residents and $40 for nonresidents.

Those interested in reserving plots should call Hudson at 614-332-6806 or visit the municipal building at 7232 E. Main St.