WSA Community Garden Program

Our New Garden Program

The Windsor Service Alliance has started a new Community Garden Program and our main goal is that it will add fresh produce to our food distribution program. It is an organically grown garden comprised of 3 garden boxes that are 4' X 12' in size and situated within the Town Green Community Garden. We will continue to need volunteers to help grow vegetables in the garden, and then harvest the vegetables to distribute at the WSA Food Pantry. Anyone in Windsor who is interested in gardening, or learning to garden by participating as a garden volunteer, especially the families who already receive food at the Pantry, are encouraged to join in. We also invite students from Windsor Middle and High Schools to sign up as part of their community service involvement. Windsor Service Alliance will continue to hold meetings at the Pantry and various locations around Windsor to discuss progress with our involvement in our new garden program at the new Town Green Community Garden. Our First Orientation meeting on April 28th went well, and Cindy Fenton from The Windsor Garden Club and Kayla Starr from iGrow attended as special guest speakers. The next Orientation meeting will be scheduled soon. Our Planting Day went well on Thursday, May 6th at the Town Green Community Garden (Behind Police Station - corner of Joe Rotoda and Windsor Road). We had our first Harvet Day on June 10th, 2010. We harvested chard, lettuce, cilantro and Expote. The produce distribution on June 11th was exciting and the food recipients were even more curious about our garden. Fresh from the Garden is a great gift to share. All the seniors, and about 35 families got our specialty produce. Upcoming harvests of pole beans and yellow squash and tomatoes will undoubtedly yield a greater quantity of fresh produce that will hopefully be shared with a larger group of food receipients. Our last meeting on Wednesday, June 9th at the garden went well and we mostly tended the garden. With the garden a new success for WSA, the new focus is on keeping the 3 plots growing well. Our next meeting will be determined by the WSACGP committee. For information or to leave a message, call WSA: 707-838-6947, e-mail Gina Osbeck at glosbeck@comcast.net or e-mail Nicole Werstler at werstlern@exchangebank.com

Overview of WSA Community Garden Program

The Windsor Service Alliance is excited to be a part of the new "Town Green Community Garden" that is now in place for use by the residents of Windsor. It is located near the police station and the Huerta gym. We have become a success with our new garden program and have worked with the Windsor Garden Club to maintain these three 4' X 12' garden boxes to use in our new garden program at the new Town Green Community Garden. Gina Osbeck, one of our board members, is working hard to oversee and coordinate the idea of "Growing Healthy Kids" with WSA's new Community Garden Program. We continue to need a few "on call" volunteers (click here soon to download WSA Volunteer Application) to help to keep the garden growing. The focus of our new Community Garden Program is to have a community garden that supports the Town of Windsor’s efforts to be Green by bringing people together, fostering healthy and active lifestyles, offering educational and voluntary opportunities and conserving green space.

Wish List, (we welcome your donations)

Donations are handled by Gina Osbeck at: glosbeck@comcast.net

Maintain a core garden volunteer team consisting of WSA Food Distribution recipients, Middle and High School students, and seasoned or novice gardeners who want to join in to help get the garden going.
Volunteers for rotating, scheduling time in garden, and to harvest the vegetables for WSA's Pantry. Nicole Werstler is coordinating this.
Seeds and plants for ongoing seasonal planting.
Garden tools, shovels, water hose, and gloves.
Harvesting Storage Boxes: cold storage ice chests or other suitable containers.
Master Gardeners or other seasoned gaardeners in community who would be willing to offer their expertise and tips at our ongoing WSA garden volunteer orientation meetings training meetings. (Dates and times to be announced. You can contact Nicole Werstler or Gina Osbeck for any questions).

Volunteer Activities in June - July 2010

Garden "Work Days" continue at the Town Green Community garden and we will keep you posted on times. Our goal is to continue to assist other gardeners in developing the garden areas. Surplus vegetables may be shared in gratitude for our continued efforts and support.
Watering schedules have been going well. Contact Nicole Werstler to sign up for July's "Watering Days".
The garden is growing and we have already harvested our first crop on Thursday, June 10th. Success is here!
Think about Summer Vegetable Starts. We need to be mindful of our "Intensive Gardening" approach, and "Compatable Planting" strategy. For info: Gina Osbeck.
Start seedlings for summer/fall. Use a heated propagator or warm room at 70 degrees to encourage germination and then keep them potted on at a lower temperature. Gina Osbeck or Heather Curran can provide helpful information on this technique.
Attend regularly scheduled WSA volunteer meetings.

General Guidelines and Maintenance of Garden

Each growing season is on an annual basis, with an emphasis upon seasonal plants.
All volunteers are required to attend an orientation meeting with the Volunteer Coordinator and to participate in the maintenance of WSA's Community Garden plots. A good example of several very handy Plot Planner from the Gardener's Supply Company.
It should help both the seasoned and novice gardeners plan the perfect combination of plants for their plots.
Garden Volunteers are responsible for the general maintenance and the daily upkeep of our garden plot. Weeding, harvesting and any other garden-related maintenance are the responsibility of WSA's garden volunteers. WSA wishes to invite conscientious minded people to participate.
WSA will be responsible to supply our own tools for the Community Garden. There is no storage available at the site at this time. All tools and supplies are the volunteer’s responsibility and need to be returned to WSA on the same day of use.
WSA encourages children and teens to work in the garden. Children are welcome in the garden but must be accompanied by an adult and must be supervised at all times.

Windsor Service Alliance Community Garden Program Photos:

Town of Windsor Demonstration Garden Photos: