community garden in Allston?

[brent whelan]

Dear neighbors,

In discussions with Harvard about its development in Allston the idea came up of using part of Harvard's vast and underused lands in Allston to make a community garden. Plans are in the very earliest stages, details totally lacking. I imagine a fenced area with plots for Harvard and community folks side by side, a chance to work together to beautify a small parcel of land in a productive way. My vague prototype is the Herter garden in Brighton where I have a plot. 

One step in the process to make this happen would be to demonstrate that there is real interest in the AB community for such a project. To that end, I would like to hear from any neighbors who might want to work a small community plot. This is a totally preliminary, non-binding request, but it might be helpful in promoting the idea, determining size, location, etc. if we knew there were people interested. If you're one of them, could you write me an email with your name (real names, please), address (street is good enough, or even just N. Allston, N. Brighton or whatever), and contact (preferred email or phone). Any other suggestions, thoughts, skills, or other relevant info would be welcome, but for now a potential head count is the important thing.

Brent Whelan

Harvard Allston Task Force

jgbw...@gmail.com

[james creamer]

As community gardeners at the Penniman Road community garden since its inception 26 years ago with the help of the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, Helena and I can state without hesitation that there is always a demand for plots and always a waiting list. If you are a locavore, there is nothing more local. I heartily endorse the idea of some open space dedicated to gardening rather than lawns and lawnmowers,  and the pleasure and benefit of having your own vegetable garden nearby is terrific. 

We thoroughtly endorse the idea of more community gardens.

Jim and Helena Creamer

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[Laura Bethard]

We'd like to pick up a plot too, if they become available.

Laura

 

-Yf thou were a latyn tretise ich wolde putte thee in the vernacular.

---

From: james creamer <jrcr...@rcn.com>
To: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: [AB2006] community garden in Allston?

[Joan Pasquale]

Hi Brent,
There is indeed a need for more Community Garden space in Allston.
At Ringer Park, several park neighbors homesteaded a section of the wooded area for Vegetable and Flower Gardening.
But the narrow plots which were off to the left of the walking trail were removed.
PCBG,Inc./Ringer Park Partnership Group has rallied for Community Garden space at Ringer Park on behalf of our neighbors, especially to accomodate our Senior neighbors on Commonwealth Ave. and Camelot Court.
 
Re:Harvard
Several years ago, Harvard University students approached Harvard and PCBG,Inc. re:their desire to utlilize the land
in back of the Honan Allston Library to create an Urban Farm/Community Garden for the Students and Community Residents. The students reported that Harvard dismissed the idea.
 
Given the fact that the desire for more Community Garden space in Allston/Brighton has been expressed by many,
you should receive a good response. One question before I post your notice to multiple community groups - 
Will Harvard except letters of interest from their students, or just Allston/Brighton residents? Please let me know.
 
Thank you,
Joan
Joan Pasquale
The Parents and Community Build Group, Inc. - PCBG,Inc.
The Ringer Park Partnership Group


 

---

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:42:45 -0500

Subject: [AB2006] community garden in Allston?

From: jgbw...@gmail.com
To: AllstonBr...@googlegroups.com

[AngelaT]

Thanks Joan, Jim, and Brent. Even though I do not demand for a plot. I support and endorse the idea of some open space to gardening for Allston/Brighton residents.

 

Angela

[Vivien Wu]

I also support the idea, and would be interested in signing up for a plot.

Vivien Wu, 86 Litchfield St

vivi...@gmail.com

[Nicole Ferrante]

Hey there,

 

Would LOVE to pick up a plot. It would also be great if harvard would use it as a learning tool for any of their agriculture students. You should check out or look into the newton community farm where i currently have a CSA. Could also be a great idea for a program, as opposed to gardening yourself.

 

Nicole & Alex Francoeur

Fairbanks Street, Brighton

[Bosteye]

I too fully support the idea of a community garden. Although, I'm not interested at this time in working a plot.

 

- Myrtle

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 10:42 AM, brent whelan <jgbw...@gmail.com> wrote:

[O'Hara, Michael C]

Great Start & Great Idea!! As the BPD Community Service Sergeant at D14 may I suggest that these three properties be looked at as great locations, that we are always using prisoners and volunteers to clean up and need some Allston TLC? #1 located along Lincoln St and Cambridge St @ Mansfield St (it maybe a little hilly but it would work-City Prop), #2) Smith Field-- the property between WBZ parcel and the broken down stonewall (this might be the project that allows for funding of a refurbished stonewall) #3--#13 Seattle St. small unkempt private parcel--recently a private resident/contractor volunteered his company to clean it--due to neighborhood complaints. I only provide my input so as to assist in seeing this idea fulfilled--of course the Brighton District Court/ Boston Police D14 volunteers will be made available to work on the project. This idea reduces crime and disorder as described in the Broken Windows Theory of policing.


Sergeant Michael C. O'Hara

Boston Police Department
Community Service Office
District 14-Allston & Brighton
617-343-4376-office
617-343-9741-fax
617-678-7084-cell
ohara...@ci.boston.ma.us

________________________________________
From: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com [allstonbr...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Nicole Ferrante [nicole....@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 12:10 PM
To: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [AB2006] community garden in Allston?

Hey there,

Would LOVE to pick up a plot. It would also be great if harvard would use it as a learning tool for any of their agriculture students. You should check out or look into the newton community farm where i currently have a CSA. Could also be a great idea for a program, as opposed to gardening yourself.

Nicole & Alex Francoeur
Fairbanks Street, Brighton

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 10:42 AM, brent whelan <jgbw...@gmail.com<mailto:jgbw...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Dear neighbors,

In discussions with Harvard about its development in Allston the idea came up of using part of Harvard's vast and underused lands in Allston to make a community garden. Plans are in the very earliest stages, details totally lacking. I imagine a fenced area with plots for Harvard and community folks side by side, a chance to work together to beautify a small parcel of land in a productive way. My vague prototype is the Herter garden in Brighton where I have a plot.

One step in the process to make this happen would be to demonstrate that there is real interest in the AB community for such a project. To that end, I would like to hear from any neighbors who might want to work a small community plot. This is a totally preliminary, non-binding request, but it might be helpful in promoting the idea, determining size, location, etc. if we knew there were people interested. If you're one of them, could you write me an email with your name (real names, please), address (street is good enough, or even just N. Allston, N. Brighton or whatever), and contact (preferred email or phone). Any other suggestions, thoughts, skills, or other relevant info would be welcome, but for now a potential head count is the important thing.

Brent Whelan
Harvard Allston Task Force

jgbw...@gmail.com<mailto:jgbw...@gmail.com>


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The substance of this message, including any attachments, may be
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[james creamer]

Some of the issues for
creation a community garden is
the
1) availability of a good
water source
2) determining condition of
and improvement of soil
3) fencing and security of the
garden
4) division of plots
4) volunteer coordinators to
create a waiting list,
create and enforce garden
rule
organize clean ups,
collection of minimal dues
for supplies (e.g. hose,
nozzles, refuse bags, tools,
etc.)

-----Original Message-----
From:
allstonbrighton2006@googlegrou
ps.com
[mailto:allstonbrighton2006@go
oglegroups.com] On Behalf Of
O'Hara, Michael C
Sent: Thursday, January 31,

2013 3:46 PM
To:
allstonbrighton2006@googlegrou
ps.com
Subject: RE: [AB2006]
community garden in Allston?

allstonbrighton2006@googlegrou
ps.com
[allstonbrighton2006@googlegro

ups.com] On Behalf Of Nicole
Ferrante
[nicole....@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 31,
2013 12:10 PM
To:

allstonbrighton2006@googlegrou

ps.com
Subject: Re: [AB2006]
community garden in Allston?

Hey there,

Would LOVE to pick up a plot.
It would also be great if
harvard would use it as a
learning tool for any of their
agriculture students. You
should check out or look into
the newton community farm
where i currently have a CSA.
Could also be a great idea for
a program, as opposed to
gardening yourself.

Nicole & Alex Francoeur
Fairbanks Street, Brighton

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 10:42
AM, brent whelan
<jgbw...@gmail.com<mailto:jg

whe...@gmail.com>

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[Don Lubin]

Good list.

On 1/31/2013 4:03 PM, james creamer wrote:
> Some of the issues for
> creation a community garden is
> the
> 1) availability of a good
> water source
> 2) determining condition of
> and improvement of soil
> 3) fencing and security of the
> garden
> 4) division of plots

> 5) volunteer coordinators to
> create a waiting list,
> create and enforce garden rules
> organize clean ups,
> collect minimal dues

[Nancy Grilk]

Thank you, Jim, for providing a reality-based check list for a
potential community garden. There is a lot involved, as your list
indicates, and no small expense. Anyone interested in pursuing this
should contact Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) the premier
community garden organization in Boston. Just Google them. Or attend
their annual Gardeners Gathering on Sat., March 30.2013. They own
gardens, work with gardeners and have an excellent training program.

But the interest is certainly there, the Penniman Road Community
Garden, where both Jim and I garden, has 28 plots and a waiting list
of 20 people. last time I checked.

Bob Pessek, Allston

> To post to this group, send email to AllstonBr...@googlegroups.com

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[james creamer]

Thanks for that good
reference, Bob, to BNAN.

[Eva Webster]

Hello Brent et al.:

The link below may help you make a persuasive case to the powers that be regarding the need for more community gardens in A-B.  

http://www.bphc.org/about/research/hob2010/Forms%20%20Documents/HOB11_Figs_14-29_NeighDem_HOB11_PrintCopy_14Nov11.pdf

The third slide down, titled “The City of Boston Community Assets, 2011” shows locations of community gardens (and other “community assets”) throughout Boston. (Note: the map is misleading in the way it overstates the amount of open space in Allston-Brighton — because much of it is owned by institutions and not at all protected from development.)

You will notice that Allston-Brighton is rather underserved in the community gardens department. Just look at all those green dots (symbolizing community gardens) in the South End, Roxbury, Dorchester and JP.  

There are some other neighborhoods (not counting the downtown areas for obvious reasons) that also have very few community gardens, but they have much more open space (or large access to the ocean) than we do, and their housing stock is not nearly as dense as ours (e.g. places like West Roxbury or Roslindale have very few multi-story apartment buildings, and houses tend to have sizable yards — almost never taken up by parking, as is often the case here).

Needless to say, I wish you the best of luck in your effort to establish a new (or maybe even more than one) community garden in A-B.  It’s a beautiful idea, beneficial on many levels.       

[aryt alasti]

Here's what's happening on the Cambridge side:

http://www.garden.harvard.edu/#

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[Karen Smith]

I can barely keep up with my 2sq ft of grass and will not ask for a plot, but I love having community gardens in the neighborhood and this is a great idea.  Karen Smith

[zku...@gmail.com]

I am moving into 15 North Beacon St and would love to joint the waiting list for a plot at the Penniman Road community garden.  How can I go about doing that?

Thanks,

Zach

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[Joan Pasquale]

Hi All,
Re: Penniman Road Gardening
You will need to contact the Boston Parks & Recreation Dept. to request a Waiting List Application. 617-635-4505
 
Re: Harvard and Allston Gardens
It's my understanding that years ago Harvard U Students approached Harvard with a request for a Community Gardening/Farm Area and were told No. The area that they wanted to farm is where the Park is now directly behind the
Honan Allston Library.
 
Good luck with your request to Harvard!
 
Best,
Joan Pasquale


 

---

Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 14:01:23 -0700
From: zku...@gmail.com
To: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com
CC: jamesr...@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [AB2006] community garden in Allston?

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