- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption:
The Dr. Robert R. Johnston Community Garden - Rhodesville Village. Raised beds and plots are still available for the season. Linda Lemmon photo.
10 years old ---
and 'growing'
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- It started with a sickly cabbage plant named Hamelton in 2010. Christian lived in an apartment downtown and the only spot for his cabbage plant was a 2-foot section of dirt next to the driveway. Hamelton the Cabbage succumbed to the exhaust fumes, poor soil and insects.
After some hard work and grant money, donations and more hard work, the Dr. Robert R. Johnston Community Garden Rhodesville Village on Smith Street is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Town of Putnam, the NDDH, HealthQuest of Northeast Connecticut worked together on community garden plan from 2010 to 2012, garnering a $22,000 grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and $11,000 in in kind.
Fencing followed, also a sink, a shed filled with tools and more. A line of blueberries and raspberries run the length of the garden.
When the garden was dedicated June 21, 2012, Christian and his family were invited to take part and to plant Hemelton II in Putnam's first Communmity Garden. How'd Hamelton II do? Took first prize in the Woodstock Fair.
Plots are still available. Raised beds (8' x 4') are $15 for the season; Ground beds (18' x 13') are $30 for the season and there is a $ 20 refundable key deposit. Applications: www.putnamct.us/departments/economic-and-community-development.
Sharing a ground bed is encouraged
..