Politics & Government
Patchogue Community Garden Site Plan Approved
Garden to have 38 plots for local residents to grow plants, vegetables, etc.
The takes a step closer to opening, as its site plan was unanimously approved at Monday’s Patchogue Village Board of Trustees meeting.
The garden would be located behind 380 Bay Avenue, which is slated to become the new home of the Village’s Parks and Recreation department.
The garden would be made up of around 45 plots, with 38 going to local residents, four earmarked for local soup kitchens and food pantries, and the remaining for the handicapped.
Michael West of the organization said that due to high interest among residents, a tiered lottery would be organized to determine who would be able to rent a plot. The lottery would give preference to Patchogue Village residents, then to Brookhaven Town residents and then anyone else if spots are left. Those who are picked would pay a fee of $25 for the season.
Laureen Prendergast, also of the organization, said that there will be mandatory training for those who
“We are going to have an orientation, and we are going to have to have a certain set of bylaws,” Prendergast said.
Some of the bylaws would involve what kinds of crops can grow next to each other, and what types of soil and fertilizer can be used.
Village attorney Brian Egan said that what will still need to be worked out are those rules and bylaws, stating that the individual gardeners will have to enter into a contract with the Village.
West said that while leadership currently has been taken up by himself and Prendergast, that over time they will likely develop a board to oversee issues with the garden.
The organization has also been in talks to receive funding from Cornell Co-operative Extension, which has grant money for these type of projects.
Still to be approved for the garden after this site-plan approval would be the determining and approval of its bylaws and other organizational issues.
Update 3/5/12 3:28 p.m.: Patchogue Community Garden wanted to add in that also working on the committee is Kristen Reyes, Jody Garrett and Kathy Seff.
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