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Site Map | Community Gardens | Organizing Your Garden


Gardening Resources

Community and Residential Gardening Resources 2010
List compiled by Boston Natural Areas Network

Boston Gardeners’ Council

  • The Boston Gardeners’ Council (BGC) is a voice for Boston’s community and residential gardeners. The BCG meets regularly to organize and promote sustainable urban gardening efforts and community gardening. All gardeners are welcome to join. For more information contact Boston Natural Areas Network at www.bostonnatural.org/cgCouncil.htm or call 617-542-7696 or email Karen Chaffee, BNAN Stewardship Manager, at karen@bostonnatural.org.

Compost / Compost Bins

  • MA Dept of Environmental Protection composting program, Ann McGovern, 617-292-5834, ann.mcgovern@state.ma.us or www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.htm. Offers compost workshops and discounted compost bins and online composting tips.
  • Boston Building Materials Coop (BBMC), 617-442-2262, www.bbmc.com. Offers compost bins, rain barrels, a few garden tools, and SmartTimbers made of recycled materials for raised garden beds. BNAN members receive a 5% discount off BBMC member price on garden supplies.
  • Boston Public Works Recycling Program Leaf and Yard Waste Collection for residential yard wastecollection, 617-635-4959, www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/YardWaste.asp. SPRING 2010 COLLECTION DATES ARE APRIL 26- MAY 28.
    COLLECTION:
    If you don't have time to compost your leaves or yard debris, Boston Public Works Department will. They will collect your leaves and yard waste on your recycling day and use it as natural fertilizer for Boston's community gardens.
    GUIDELINES:
    Yard Waste stickers for barrels are available by calling 617-635-4959.
    Tie branches with string, 3' maximum length. Do not put branches in barrels.
    Put barrels, bags and branches on the curb by 7:00 AM on your Recycling Day, between the collection dates listed above.
    Yard waste will not be collected with trash during this period.
    Yard waste in plastic bags will also not be collected. No more Saturday collections.
    Please Note: Yard waste will not be collected for the two weeks prior to the Spring Collection (April 12 to April 23). Please hold on to your yard waste until collection begins the week of April 26.
  • Boston Natural Areas Network coordinates orders for community gardens (Boston gardens only) that wish to receive free compost through Boston Public Works Recycling Program. Call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or email kim@bostonnatural.org.
    • Note: Check with compost, mulch and manure source for quality and testing of possible contaminates. Never add fresh manure to edible crops. When applying manures to the garden, make sure to use well-rotted manures only or you may "burn" your plants and expose edibles to harmful bacterial growth.

Farmers Markets and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

  • The Food Project makes fresh, locally grown produce available to the community through their farmers markets and CSA program, both are available in several communities in and near Boston. For details call 617-442-1322 or visit www.thefoodproject.org/farmers-markets for Food Project farmers markets and http://thefoodproject.org/community-supported-agriculture for Food Project CSA program.
  • Milton’s Farmers Market on Wharf Street at Milton Landing. Accessible by Milton T Stop on the red line trolley. Market runs June through October on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Find fresh produce, cheese, seafood, bread, baked goods, and honey.
  • Mattapan Farmers Market at Church of the Holy Spirit, 525 River Street, Mattapan. Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. WIC and senior farmers market coupons accepted. For more information contact 617-296-2000 or 617-414-6878 or visit www.mattapanfoodandfitness.org.
  • To locate a Farmers Market near you contact The Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets at www.massfarmersmarkets.org or phone 781-893-8222. To locate a CSA in your community contact Mass Dept of Agricultural Resources at www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/csa.htm or Lisa.Damon@state.ma.us, 617-626-1731.

Finding a Plot in a Community Garden

  •      In time for the growing season , the community garden map on the BNAN website that includes all 150 community gardens in the city has become interactive. You can now easily locate gardens near your home or in your neighborhood and see garden aerials, photographs of the garden and street views to and around the garden and learn the address and owner. Check out http://bostonnatural.org/cgFind.htm today. It is also a great way to take a virtual tour of the city’s gardens. If you do not have access to a computer, call us and we can send a paper map of all the community gardens.
         Once you find a garden you are interested in, contact us and we will give you the name and contact information for the garden coordinator. All garden coordinators are urged to update their gardener list to identify available plots as early as possible. The garden coordinators, who are volunteers, will give you information on obtaining a plot, fees, rules, clean-up days, special events in the garden, and more. If you find that a garden has a waiting list for individual plots, you may want to volunteer to help maintain communal areas and help at garden clean-ups. In addition, BNAN has a list on its website of gardens that have plots available along with the contact information. The list is updated throughout the spring as coordinators report plot availability to us.
         For a copy of our printed map of community gardens or the name of a garden coordinator contact BNAN at 617-542-7696, or email info@bostonnatural.org.
  • For information on the South End Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust community gardens call SELROSLT at 617-437-0999.
  • For Somerville community gardening information call the Somerville Conservation Commission at 617-776-4160.
  • For Cambridge community garden information call the Cambridge Conservation Commisssion at 617-349-4680 or visit their website at www.cambridgema.gov/CCC/.
  • For community garden information along the Southwest Corridor Parklands call MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Southwest Corridor Parkland at 617-727-0057.
  • For community garden information in areas outside of Boston, if not listed above, contact the community’s town hall.

Grants for Assisting Community Gardens

  • NEW ENGLAND GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENT FUND (NEGEF).      NEGEF’s Boston Grants Initiative provides grants up to $10,000 to groups working on environmental projects and includes funding for community gardens in the neighborhoods of Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Cambridge. The upcoming deadline for applications is June 15 with a funding decision to be made at the end of September.
         NEGEF’s Small Grants Program provides grants up to $2,500 to fund community involvement in projects that address a wide range of environmental issues and includes funding for community gardens. Gardens must be outside of Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Cambridge. The upcoming deadline for Small Grants Program is September 15, with a funding decision in early December.
         For more information and before submitting a proposal please contact Ginny Callan at callan@grassrootsfund.org or call NEGEF at 802-223-4622. More information is available on their website at www.grassrootsfund.org. If your garden would like assistance in writing your NEGEF proposal BNAN will assist you, please call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or email vidya@bostonnatural.org.
  • City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development. Grassroots program for funding for community garden construction. Contact Andria Post Ergun, Grassroots Program Director at 617-635-0203, aergun.dnd@cityofboston.gov and www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/PDFs/D_Boston_Grassroots_CDBG.pdf.

Organic Soil Amendments

  • If you are interested in bulk purchase of organic soil amendments we suggest you contact Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) at www.nofamass.org/programs/bulkorder/, phone 978-355-2853. You may also order organic soil amendments through Fedco Seeds at www.fedcoseeds.com, phone 207-873-7333; or Johnny’s Selected Seeds at www.johnnyseeds.com, phone 877-564-6697 as well as other suppliers.
    • Note: Check with compost, mulch and manure source for quality and testing of possible contaminates. Never add fresh manure to edible crops. When applying manures to the garden, make sure to use well-rotted manures only or you may "burn" your plants and expose edibles to harmful bacterial growth.

    Other Gardening Supplies

  • "Good Gardening Practices" postcard. Now in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Postcard provides an easy reference for healthy gardening practices. Lists 10 points to be used by gardeners to help protect gardeners from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead (Pb) and other contaminants commonly found in the urban soil. Guidelines were prepared by Boston University School of Public Health, Dept. of Environmental Health. For additional postcards to distribute to gardeners please email Karen Chaffee, BNAN Stewardship Manager at karen@bostonnatural.org or call BNAN at 617-542-7696. Postcards are distributed to community gardeners free of charge.

Other Community Garden Organizations

  • See local community garden organizations listed on this resource list under “Finding a Plot in a Community Garden”.
  • American Community Gardening Association. Join the nationwide community gardening movement. Valuable information online, get in contact with community gardeners from around the country. Join ACGA at their annual conference August 5-8, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. Write ACGA, 1777 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH, 43203 or call 877-275-2242 or visit www.communitygarden.org.

Plants and Seeds

  • BNAN holds the Spring and Fall Festivals and Perennial Divides at City Natives, 30 Edgewater Drive, Mattapan Square. Bring perennial divisions, bulbs, etc., and take home plants. Select New England native plants and other items available for purchase. Call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or www.bostonnatural.org/evtSpringFestival.htm and www.bostonnatural.org/evtHarvestFestival.htm. Dates for 2010 are Saturday, May 22 and Saturday, October 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • BNAN provides free seeds for Boston and Boston-area community gardens. Seeds must be pre-ordered in January by garden leadership for the entire garden. Seeds are distributed at the close of the Annual Gardeners Gathering in March. For further information please phone BNAN at 617-542-7696 or email kim@bostonnatural.org.
  • ReVision Urban Farm offers vegetable, herb and flower seedlings for sale. Their selection includes heirlooms. You may contact them to see if they can grow your favorite variety. Call 617-822-FARM(3276) or www.vpi.org/Re-VisionFarm/ for information and order form to pre-order seedlings.
  • America the Beautiful Fund offers free seeds for community projects. There is a small processing fee. Visit www.america-the-beautiful.org/free_seeds/index.php or phone 202-638-1649.
  • Seeds of Change donation program, There is a small handling charge for organic seed donations for community projects. Contact www.seedsofchange.com/donations/default.aspx or phone 1-888-762-7333.

Rototilling, Snow Removal, Grass Mowing

  • Check with neighbors and local businesses for local contractor to provide these services to your garden or contact Boston Natural Areas Network at 617-542-7696 or info@bostonnatural.org.

Soil Testing

Tools for Loan

  • Boston Parks and Recreation Dept. has flat shovels, brooms and rakes available for garden clean-ups. Contact Mike Vardaro at BPRD at 617-635-7275.

Trash Pick-Up, Seasonal, and Periodic Cleanups

  • Boston Parks and Recreation Dept. will pick up both trash and also compostable leaf and plant material from community gardens. Materials must be separated and bagged. Place trash in plastic bags and place leaves and plant materials in paper bags. The garden should call Mike Vardaro, Boston Parks Dept., at 617-635-7275 preferably at least a week or more in advance of the cleanup and give the date and location of pickup. All materials to be picked up should be left outside the garden (if locked), being careful not to block the sidewalk. (Please note: This service is not available to Community Gardens owned by the State/DCR.)
  • For spring and fall community garden clean-ups, contact the Neighborhood Coordinator from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services 617-635-3485 or http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/coor_list.asp. Boston Shines 2010 is scheduled for Friday, April 23 (Corporate Volunteer Day) and Saturday, April 24 (Community Volunteer Day). For more information www.cityofboston.gov/ons/bostonshines/. Call Neighborhood Services in advance at 617-635-3485 to request tools and trash pickup for your cleanup.

Volunteers

  • People Making a Difference. Contact Lori Tsuruda, 617-282-7177, www.pmd.org. Usually requires two-month advance notice.
  • City Year. 617-927-2500, www.cityyear.org. Can provide 10-20 volunteers for a community garden project.
  • VolunteerMatch. www.volunteermatch.org. Post your request for volunteers on their website.
  • Boston Cares. www.bostoncares.org. Boston Cares organizes and leads team oriented volunteer opportunities throughout Greater Boston that have a positive impact on individuals and communities.

Water Issues

  • Contact the organization or agency that owns the garden.

Woodchips

  • Unfortunately, woodchips are no longer available from Boston Parks and Recreation. Contact your local arborist or landscaper to see if they will drop off a load of woodchips for your garden.
    • Note: Check with compost, mulch and manure source for quality and testing of possible contaminates.

Workshops, Classes, Information

Click here to download this Community and Residential Garden Resource List in printable, pdf format.

Resource list updated 3/17/2010
Information compiled by Boston Natural Areas Network
Phone 617-542-7696, www.bostonnatural.org or email info@bostonnatural.org.