HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-21-CONCOM-min (Community Garden Subcommittee)TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
COMMUNITY GARDEN SUBCOMMITTEE
Thursday, May 21st, 2015
4:30 P.M.
Community Development Meeting Room, Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
In Attendance: Community Gardeners Alix Bartsch, Marita Hartshorn; Conservation
Commissioners: Kevin Beuttell, Phil Hamilton
Others Present: Jordan McCarron, Conservation Stewardship Program Coordinator
I. Current Policies and Practices: Pros and Cons
Mr. Hamilton began the meeting by explaining that the Conservation Commission
made the decision to form the community garden sub - committee as a way to address
issues that the gardeners at Dunback Meadow have raised over the years concerning
the Commission's garden policies as well as issues that the Commission is facing
regarding the presence of wetlands adjacent to the gardens.
Mr. Hamilton opened up the discussion by asking Mrs. Bartsch and Mrs. Hartshorn
to give an update on the gardens this year and inviting them to ask any questions or
raise any concerns about the current community garden policies:
Mrs. Hartshorn confirmed that sunflowers are allowed at the garden; Mr. McCarron
pointed out that gardeners should plant dwarf varieties so as not to interfere with
neighboring garden plots.
Mrs. Bartsch reported that ticks are a major issue at the garden and indicated that
laying down wood chips to minimize tick habitat makes a huge difference. She
expressed concern that the Commission has prohibited the gardeners from bringing in
wood chips this season when it has always been allowed in the past. Mrs. Bartsch
also reported that the water shut -off valve is broken and has been broken since last
season.
Mrs. Bartsch reported that things are going well this year; all garden plots are
currently occupied. The gardeners have set up a rain barrel system which they try to
use first before relying on Town water. Mrs. Bartsch reported some minor vandalism
at the garden (a small wooden bench was kicked over), but the garden perimeter
fence has really minimized incidents of vandalism overall. Mr. Bartsch said that the
gardeners have discussed potentially putting a lock on the gate of the perimeter fence
to keep out non - gardeners, but indicated that a group consensus would have to made
about that.
Mrs. Bartsch requested that the gardeners have better access to the gardens for
vehicles and suggested that she be given a key instead of having to coordinate for the
gate to be opened with the Conservation Division. Mrs. Hatshorn suggested that there
be designated weekends at the beginning of the season for the gate to be open for
gardeners to deliver heavy or unwieldy items to the garden.
Mrs. Hatshorn suggested that the role of enforcing the Commission's community
garden policies should be held by Mr. McCarron, not Mrs. Bartsch. Mr. Hamilton
disagreed, indicating that enforcement happens on several levels; the gardeners might
feel pushed around if the Town deals with everything. Mrs. Bartsch indicated that she
has found it hard to enforce the community garden policies strictly with new
gardeners as Mr. McCarron had requested when most existing gardeners are already
violating many of the policies.
Mrs. Hartshorn suggested that Mr. McCarron include a rationale for each of the
community garden polices as a way to help the gardeners understand their purpose
and then more unanimously abide by them.
Mr. Hamilton expressed the Commission's concern that the raised bed structures at
the garden inhibit the functionality of the adjacent wetland due to water
displacement. Both Mrs. Hartshorn and Mrs. Bartsch expressed concern that raised
beds are essential for gardening in that location, both because of pest and weed
pressure but also because of wet soils. Mr. Hamilton also expressed the
Commission's concern that gardening practices, including bringing in organic
fertilizers and other soil amendments, are having an adverse impact on the wetland.
Mrs. Bartsch commented that there does not seem to be any impact to the wetland
from gardening since the gardens have been there for 30+ years and there is no visual
effect on the surrounding wetland vegetation. Mr. Hamilton reminded the group that
the visual health of wetland vegetation alone is not a good judge of the overall impact
of the community gardens on the wetland.
II. Planning for the Future
Mr. Hamilton then focused the conversation on future plans for the Dunback
Meadow Community Garden. Mr. Hamilton expressed concern that the garden is
located in a very sensitive area and explained that the Commission has become
increasingly protective and more -strict about activities in and around wetlands. Mr.
Hamilton pointed out that the Commission is extremely strict with development in
areas that are less sensitive and offered that the Commission would not allow the
gardens to be built at that site if the project came before it today.
Mr. Hamilton then expressed the desire of the Commission to move the gardens to a
more suitable location and that it would like to do so in the best possible way for the
current gardeners while involving the gardeners in the process as much as possible.
Mrs. Hartshorn commented that the Commission should get ahead of the game and
be transparent with the larger group of gardeners; the gardeners should be given
ample opportunity to prepare themselves for the move and not invest a lot of effort in
their current plots.
Mr. Hamilton explained that the Commission has not voted on this issue yet because
the Commission wants the input of the gardeners on timeline, process, etc. before a
formal vote is taken. Mr. Hamilton reiterated that the Commission does not want to
make any firm decisions on this matter until the gardeners are in a position where
they feel like the Town is in support of them, the future of the gardens, and that
mowing the gardens has a net positive benefit; Mr. Hamilton expressed concern that
the Commission should work with the gardeners so they can get to a place where they
do not feel like the decision to move the gardens is being forced upon them. Mr.
Hamilton added that although the Commission had not officially voted on
moving the garden, the move would take place no earlier than the 2016
gardening season and probably no later than the 2017 season. Additionally,
Mr. Hamilton made it clear that Mrs. Bartsch and Mrs. Hartshorn were free to
let the rest of the gardeners at Dunback Meadow know about the
Commission's plans.
Mr. Beuttell asked if it would help to give the gardeners a firm idea of where the new
garden might be located. Mrs. Hartshorn commented that it would definitely help the
process if potential new locations could be identified and there could be a tour of
these locations with the existing gardeners.
Mr. Hamilton closed the meeting by confirming that both Mrs. Bartsch and Mrs.
Hartshorn would be available to look at some potential new sites for the community
garden over the next several months. Mr. Hamilton also confirmed that the
Commission would do a site visit to Rock Meadow Community Garden in Belmont;
the site was recommended by both Mrs. Bartsch and Mrs. Hartshorn as a good model.