Community Gardens Take Root at Kelley Park

Community Gardens Take Root at Kelley Park

Shiny red tomatoes, plump bell peppers, and long green cucumbers will be just a few of the fresh, locally-grown foods at Bristol’s new community gardens this spring. To provide better access to fresh food and provide new and exciting opportunities for families, the Town of Bristol in partnership with Lakes Region Board of REALTORS, the Pasquaney Garden Club, Minot-Sleeper Library, and Bristol Sustainability Committee will provide several raised garden beds at the north end of Kelley Park to local families at no charge beginning this spring. This new initiative will bring healthy, fresh food to families and will repurpose a portion of Kelley Park.

Community members and families who have never grown their own food are encouraged to apply for a garden plot. Master gardeners will provide those with garden plots everything they need to get started, including lessons on what to plant and when, how to grow and care for what is planted, and how and when to harvest what is grown. Healthy Living Educator Lisa Ford from University of New Hampshire Extension will provide cooking lessons to inspire gardeners with new recipes that use what they have grown as ingredients.

All materials needed for gardening will be provided to those with garden plots, including seeds from Minot-Sleeper Library’s seed library, and tools like hand shovels and gardening gloves that have been generously donated by various community partners. Community members and businesses are invited to donate tools.

Bristol’s community gardens are made possible by the generous support of many community members. Materials, including lumber and soil, and the craftmanship to build the gardens are being donated by Shaun Lagueux of New England Forestry, Hiltz Excavating, and Kevin LaCasse of New England Family Housing.

If you or someone you know is interested in having a garden plot at Kelley Park this year to grow fresh vegetables and herbs, please pick up an application at Bristol Community Services, 24 Pleasant St.; Tapply-Thompson Community Center, 30 North Main St.; or the Land Use Office at the Bristol Town Hall, 5 School St. Those wishing to donate tools to the program for gardeners to use, please call the Minot-Sleeper Library at 603-744-3352 or email [email protected].