- April 29, 2024
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Residents enjoy making friends while growing their own vegetables.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Those driving down Hammock Land through Central Park may notice a large garden with impressive outbursts of vegetables and flowers from neatly arranged planting boxes in a fenced-in area.
It’s actually attracting a lot of attention.
“Every time I’m here, somebody stops and wants to come in and see it,” said Lori Tolland, co-chairwoman on the volunteer committee that created the garden with support from the city.
The first Ormond Beach Community Garden had a ribbon cutting on June 5 to celebrate the result of many months of work and planning.
The 28 available plots are taken, and a waiting list has been started. County residents pay $30 for a one-year lease and others pay $45.
Maryann Zeledon, recreation coordinator for the city, said it has been a true community project. The committee was all-volunteer, and most of the money was provided by donations. The committee and the gardeners contributed labor in building the boxes, adding the soil, putting down weed cloth, etc.
“We had ‘work parties,’” Zeledon said. “People would bring food.”
She said the gardeners have each other’s email, and often help each other. They may ask another gardener to water, or warn someone about a problem.
“A lot of friendships have developed,” she said.
Gardeners get lots of advice
The gardeners give a lot of credit for their success to advice from master gardeners who are often at the site.
Karen Oledo stops by a couple of times a week. She also provides advice via email, such how to control pests in the garden, which is organic, and when to plant different vegetables.
Another master gardener, Russ Royce, is on the Community Garden committee, and is often at the site.
One gardener who has found the advice very helpful has been Mary Lou Kenzik, who said she’s good at growing flowers, but had never tried vegetables. She and a friend heard about the garden, so decided to give it a try. She found she likes gardening in a group environment and said it’s been fun and challenging.
She said the master gardeners have been a “treasure trove” of knowledge and she also learns a lot from other gardeners.
“Some of us are inexperienced, and the ones who are experienced are anxious to share their knowledge,” she said.
The growth of an idea
The idea for the garden started three years ago, when the City Commission asked Leisure Services to look into it.
About two years ago, a committee of volunteers was formed and started discussions. There turned out to be a lot involved in choosing a site, setting rules, designing construction, raising money, etc.
“We spent three weeks researching soil composition,” Tolland said.
At the dedication ceremony, Steve Packard, garden committee chairman, said he appreciated the city’s support.
“I can’t think of a better way to provide recreation than a community garden,” he said.
The city would like to have two more gardens, but Zeledon said they are going to wait to discuss future plans this fall, after they’ve learned from the first experience.
For materials and labor, the city chipped in $6,000, when the committee didn’t reach the $14,000 total that was needed.
On Facebook, visit City of Ormond Beach Community Garden. Call the city Leisure Services Department for more information at 676-3293.
