Residents are now able to apply for the reservation of new plots.
After drainage issues were discovered at the 60 existing urban garden plots in Moorestown and the community waitlist for these plots grew, the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders began discussing alternative solutions. Ultimately, it chose to preserve an existing 68-acre former dairy farm in town that will soon house 104 new plots spanning approximately 1.5 acres.
According to Mary Pat Robbie, director of the Burlington County Department of Resource Conservation, the new plots will be outside the Burlington County Agricultural Center, located at 500 Centerton Road, and will be positioned adjacent to the existing plots, which only take up a half-acre of land. Renters of existing plots may choose to continue their presence at the prior space, but the county is hoping most will move into the new space. Once all the gardeners are relocated, the county will either reconstruct the prior urban garden or use the area for some type of event space.
The space for the additional plots was selected because the county owns the land, and with more than 40 resident gardeners waitlisted, its utilization was deemed necessary, according to Robbie. To begin construction on the land, the freeholders have approved the award of a design contract to Taylor Design Group, Moorestown Town Council’s architect/landscaper, for all improvement work.
“The community gardens [are important because they] give residents the opportunity to grow their own produce if they are not able to garden at their homes. Many [residents] have moved from larger homes where they had space to garden,” said Robbie. “In addition, gardening is a great physical activity, and the availability of fresh produce furthers healthy lifestyles.”
Justifying the need for these remote gardens, Robbie noted the increased number of people on the urban garden waitlist reflects an increasing number of homes in the surrounding area without access to yards or garden space. Additionally, she said the 55-and-older townhouse development across the street from the garden, The Mews at Laurel Creek, has recently seen an influx of residents, many of whom could potentially wish to rent a plot.
Furthermore, Robbie explained the new plots will provide an increased number of residents with the opportunity to garden and will house superior soil than in the previous plots. She added the new design will allow gardeners to drive to their plots, whereas with the original plots, residents had to park their cars and carry tools and plants to the spaces.
Yet, with the new and innovative layout, there are still restrictions. Gardeners will largely be able to grow whatever vegetable crops they want, aside from ones that will shade other plants, and invasive plants such as mint. Planting perennials will also be prohibited.
Along with enforcing the rules of the urban garden, Robbie added that Burlington County Department of Resource Conservation staff will contribute to the maintenance of the garden to ensure the space is as successful as possible. However, it is the gardener’s primary responsibility to care for and maintain a rented plot.
In securing a plot in the new urban garden, space will be able to be rented by any resident or organization in the county. Essentially, the gardener will pay for a rental fee. It will cost $50 to rent a full plot and $25 to rent a half plot. The county will not be making any money off the plots or rental fees.
Although construction has not yet begun, the Burlington County Department of Resource Conservation is working to acquire the necessary building permits from the township. Robbie states that once site construction moves forward, the Burlington County Department of Resource Conservation will be sending applications to local gardeners at the existing community gardens to give them the first opportunity to seize the new plots. It will then send applications to those on the waiting list, and if there’s room available, it will announce the availability of plots on its website.
Completion of the project is set for the beginning of May, and anyone interested in applying to reserve a plot should call the Department of Resource Conservation at (856) 642–3850.
For more information, visit www.burlcoagcenter.com.
