Excitement Blooming For Carman Community Gardens

There's been a lot of excitement this summer at the Carman Community Gardens, according to committee chairperson, Pat Veldman.

She explains, 54 gardeners have snatched up 68 of the 77 plots at the two-acre site. Some plots were unavailable this year because they are being remediated.

"It's amazing, the garden is starting to pick up and people are excited," said Veldman, noting the client list includes newcomers, and young married couples right up to seniors. "As far as the community outreach with COVID-19, you could meet people in the garden because they are in their plot and you're in your plot and you can talk! It's really rewarding to be out there." 

While awareness of the gardens has grown in recent years, Veldman also feels pandemic restrictions inspired people to try their hand at gardening in order to fill their new-found free time and to offset increasing food prices.

"I"m thinking of this one young couple, they hadn't had a clue what they were doing, so she says they come out and ask, talking to whoever is in the garden about what they are doing and how they do it. You should see their garden, everything's growing good. It's a lot of learning off of each other, you have something in common to talk to somebody you don't know."

And from what she's hearing, a lot of the gardeners are asking for bigger plots next year.

Looking to the future, Veldman says a big goal for the Gardens committee is to improve water access at the site.

"We had a twelve-hundred and fifty gallon tank donated to us this year and the Town fills that for us twice a week, which is amazing, and then we also have a bunch of gardeners that will bring their own water, so water's an issue," she explained, noting the big dream is to build a well. "But, we are within town limits and wells aren't allowed to be built, so the Town is working on that," added Veldman.

Meantime, the community gardens will be a part of the garden tours being hosted by the Garden Club of Carman on July 17th.