The Garden Plot that is. If you have always wanted a garden but don’t have the space here are some local community gardens that offer plots – many of them free of charge or with a minimal fee. It’s the perfect time to get started and here are some ideas to make it easy.

If you look on the website  for InterGenerate which encourages locally grown food and community, you will find a Community Garden Network page with contact information for Community Gardens from Yonkers to Katonah. There are a couple of recent additions this year. InterGenerate has teamed up with Marsh Sanctuary  to build a community garden and teaching garden at the Marsh Sanctuary just off Route 172 in Mount Kisco. I stopped by Marsh Santuary earlier today and ran into Christian Pace the naturalist at the sanctuary and Peggy Clarke of InterGenerate. They were very excited to see the progress; land has been marked off, the fence posts are up, the tool shed is built, the water tank is and fence are almost in place and Alberto and Christian are getting ready to open the garden by May 1^st.

Plots are available and run on a sliding scale – the more volunteer work you can do for the community gardens the less the fee. If you volunteer three hours a month to the Community Garden (sorry not your own plot!) the monthly fee becomes $25. If you have less time to volunteer say 1 ½ hours a month the fee becomes $100 month. They value your time!

InterGenerate has also teamed up with the John Jay Homestead to open a teaching garden on the Homestead property in Katonah. They will provide the tools and seeds and students will be involved in planting, caring and harvesting toward the end of the season. Classes are taught by Suzi Novak and meet on Saturday mornings and one evening a week. For more information go to: www.intergenerateny.org

The Plot Thickens…..

A great and easy way to get started with your garden this year is to buy Hilltop Hanover Farms Garden Starter Kit for $50. The farm located in Yorktown Heights is making a special offer to the first 50 interested gardeners. The kit contains enough plants and seeds to plant an 8 x 10 garden along with a diagram and instructions. They are using it as a teaching tool and when you pick up your kit on May 22^nd you are also invited to a one hour lecture with farmer Mary Ellen Sheehan as well as email blasts and a “follow along guide” posted on their website. Even if you plan on adding to their great selection it is a worthwhile investment. Lucille from the farm told me they were selling fast so be sure to call and reserve yours. www.hilltophanoverfarm.org .

Plot your own course….

And if you are an experienced gardener looking for some early planting Hilltop Hanover has seedlings for sale this Saturday. I saw some beautiful Bok Choy, scallions, broccoli, parsley, cabbage to name just a few.

And until your garden starts to produce don’t forget the Gossett’s Farm Market on Saturdays in South Salem on Route 35 just past the fire station or the Cabbage Hill Farm Stand starting in May at St. Mark’s Church in Mt. Kisco.

If you have kids, be sure to check out the Summer Gardening Program For Kids Ages 6-8 at Lasdon Park & Arboretum on rte Route 35, Katonah. Four Mondays they will have • butterfly garden & potting up plants to take home • garden & field exploration • crafts & stories. Four Mondays: June 28 and July 12, 19 & 26, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee $50 ($45 for Friends of Lasdon members).

For more information or to register contact Cathy CAHLasdon@optonline.net 

Phone: 914 874-4519