Springfield Starts Community Garden

At the risk of seeming too self congratulatory, I feel have to note that a Patch article first planted the seed for Springfield's community garden. Township administrator Anthony Cancro traced the garden's roots back to an early interview he had with Patch writer Dan Breau. After finding out that then-newly appointed town administrator Anthony Cancro was an avid gardener, Breau suggested that the township create a public garden.

"I said 'that's a great idea,'" Cancro said on a day in early August, shortly before digging into one of the six garden plots with a shovel.

Of course, as much as we'd like to, Patch can't take all the credit. At the same time that Breau suggested a community garden, Springfield's Environmental Commission Chairperson Denise DeVone was acting on the same idea.

Springfield Mayor Ziad Shehady put her in touch with Cancro, and soon, several prominent members of Springfield's community joined them, including Township Committee member Marc Krauss and public works director Ken Homlish.

"We started brainstorming on where it could go," DeVone said.

The community garden is on Wabeno Ave., a short walk away from the recently dedicated Township clock and close to the small stream by Dayton's athletic fields.

"We had our choice of either side of the river," DeVone said. "We picked this one because of the sunlight.

In addition to the sun, the location has other advantages, including, Cancro noted, its visibility.

"It's within the community," Cancro said. "It's across the street from apartments. People know about the space."

The garden currently has six plots, and green shoots where green shoots are just beginning to appear. The DPW, Springfield's Environmental Commission and the township's garden club are maintaining them. Ultimately they hope to have twice as many plots, and have them maintained by members of the public.

"The first year, we're doing it to kick it off," DeVone said. "But we want more people to participate."

In addition to typical garden fare such as tomatoes, basil and poinsettias, they are allowing a native species of weed to grow in the plot.

"The environmental commission will use it for education," DeVone said. "We're growing weeds because we want to see what will happen."

The garden is just the beginning for Krauss's vision for the public property.

"The next phase is a toddler park," Krauss said. "There'll be a playground set, benches and a conforming fence."

Already, the garden is growing; in mid-August, DeVone was able to secure the necessary grant money for six more plots.