GARDENS

The garden in mid June: Tony's spot Alice

VISIT THE SWART WILCOX COMMUNITY GARDEN BLOG! ....If you can fall in love with a garden, then I'm in love. Six o'clock on Friday evening, I drove up to the community garden site—a fenced rectangle atop a grassy bank up the street from Riverside School. In the car, a couple of flats and a child's rake, a trowel....

http://thecommunitygardenersjournal.blogspot.com/

Alice Lichtenstein:
I'm a writer and first-time community gardener who simply wants to share the ecstatic joys and inevitable lows of a first-time gardener.
Oneonta's own published writer: Alice has received a New York Foundation of the Arts Grant in Fiction and has twice been a fellow at the prestigious MacDowell Colony in Petersborough in New Hampshire. Her debut novel, The Genius of the World, received high acclaim from critics. Alice has taught writing at Boston University, Wheaton College, and the Harvard University Summer School. She is currently at work on a new novel.

Here is the info on the Community Garden: 2009

REGISTRATION is through the ONEONTA RECREATION DEPARTMENT: In Neahwa Park, the office building by the pond. Bring a checkbook or cash $10...this deposit is refunded to you at the end of the season. Last year, Asbury Gardens donated $10 to each gardener in supplies or plants!

Initiated by ALDERMAN ERIK MILLER 607 432-6594

MESSAGE FROM JENNIE WILLIAMS 432-2038:
Thank you so much Erik for your work.
The whole fenced in area is pre-tilled courtesy of the City of Oneonta. Last year, this tilling was done without compost. HOWEVER, COMPOST DOES EXIST from the City Green gathered compost...although the mixture might be more carbon (leaves) than nitrogenous (food and such that one might throw on a compost pile), this is something that would greatly improve the soil for this year if instituted.
WATER: Water was a chronic problem last year, and lack of available water decreased both the quality of the garden and the immune strength of the plants. We had a tomato blight through the garden last year that may have been initiated by a drought, then over wetness at times. Because of the blight last year, I'll probably avoid growing tomatos at the garden this year. Water is kept in 2 large containers, there are plenty of pails that we all share. A nice thing effect of the containers is that the chlorine evaporates from the water. WE WILL DEFINITELY NEED MORE CONTAINERS OR A WATER SOURCE THIS YEAR.
Although a shed for tools is NOT planned right now, it is very much needed, a small locked shed (combination) would allow us access to better tools.

There is a 6 foot inch deer fence, the interior is staked.

Last year, in 2008, ARC the Center for Self Expression took on a plot through Jennie...sowing tomatos, the three sisters etc. And here are some of the Center for Self Expression friends in mid-season. It was so fun!
Swart-Wilcox House on Wilcox Avenue view of Riverside School Swart-Wilcox House on Wilcox Avenue view of lawn in rear

WHAT IS THE STORY ON THE HOUSE NEAR THE GARDEN? The current site of the Community Garden is the long-time garden of the family that lived in that house, last farmed about 50 years ago. The Swart-Wilcox House is the City's oldest structure and is located one block off River Street, at the end of Wilcox Avenue. The structure is the only remaining example of its type left in the City. It was built by Lawrence Swart, a Revolutionary War Veteran from Schoharie County. The house was built in 1807. After Swart's death in 1841, the house was sold to Collier and Goodyear of Colliersville. They in turn sold it to Gideon Ray. Henry Wilcox purchased the house in 1867 and was in the Wilcox Family until the City of Oneonta purchased the house and grounds. The City of Oneonta has recently completed a renovation of the house and will be used as an education center for local schools and those interested in its historical significance. The Swart-Wilcox House Renovation Project was recently awarded a major historic preservation award by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

HOW TO IMPROVE THE GARDEN IN THE FUTURE:
HERE ARE SOME GREAT THINGS THAT THE VILLAGE OF NEW PALTZ DID TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY GARDEN THERE:
1. Provided arable land on a flood plain near the river, good soil in a location that is easy for residents to get to. (LAND AT SWART WILCOX was previously farmed, the soil is deep and fertile with few stones.)
2. Built a high electric fence around the perimeter...about 8 feet tall
3. City composting is also done AT THE SITE: all a gardener has to do is wheel the wheel barrow over to the huge compost pile...mostly carbon, but still great. (NEXT YEAR, perhaps we can ask for compost to be brought from the City Green Compost...or could be pre-tilled in for us from that compost).
4. Sectioned off the individual allotments with simple fencing
5. Provided water and hose (The water now does work out at Swart Wilcox, now that there are 2 barrels for the water).
6. Help with clean up after annual flooding. (Flooding is not expected to be a problem at Swart Wilcox)

Future likely coworkers.
Find / Designate a City Employee who loves the project (a City employee like Alex?)ONE person who has the time and energy to organize others.
Partner with
The City of Oneonta
Historic Preservationists (grant for wattle/coppiced wood fence around the perimeter and an arbor to rest gardeners in)
Artists to design and build the perimeter fence with money available through the Arts Council
Riverview Elementary School
Bocees

Cornell Cooperative Extension's
MASTER GARDENERS: make it a project that they would love
NUTRITION Education and food for people who would like it but can't afford it, and perhaps aren't capable of gardening
Debbie Wojehowski Nutrition Educator at Oneonta Cornell Extension. She teaches people who get food stamps how to buy, how to make food.
Dianne Dirig is the Senior Nutrition Coordinator at CCE 547-2536 ext 224: both a nutritionist AND a Master Gardener dd225@cornell.edu
Jano Nightengale is Coordinator of Master Gardeners @ CCE 547-2536 ext 221 jn87@cornell.edu She'll be sharing info on this garden at their next meeting.
Churches and Synagogue: my sister's church has a garden that feeds shut-ins and people who can't afford fresh fruits and vegetables.
Oneonta Garden Club

This is a free community-cooperative and organic garden. We have plots available at 247 Chestnut Street. If you would like to participate and reserve a row to grow your own,
contact either Annie Avery 432-0730 or Nathan Batalion 267-8901.

Interview with Nathan Batalion May 2, 2008: Any charge for the garden plots? No charge. Sizes of plots and how distributed? Not yet determined. Have the plots ever been tilled? Yes, this is the second year. 70% used last year. WATER: spigot does exist about 60 feet away....a 100 foot hose will be great when someone brings. Yes, you can use Nathan's water in moderation not a problem. Compost? We haven't set up anything yet, but would like to set aside an area. Fencing around perimeter to keep out critters? No, not now, but if we chip in we can buy something, that would be fine. Fencing between plots? Last year we cut down timber, thin 3" logs to demarcate the lines. Arable soil? Decent. Any amendments or planting of white clover or alfalfa prior to starting up? Not yet, but this is a good idea.