“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” —Margaret Atwood

Green thumbs are getting ready for the growing season, including those that tend the Newtown Victory Garden at Fairfield Hills. The deadline for renewing Victory Garden rows is March 20, said garden committee chairman Gail Friedman. Rows are maintained by volunteer teams.

Those who already have a row or are interested in getting a row should contact Friedman at gailfried47gmail.com or the Parks and Recreation Department at 203-270-4340, or visit the Parks and Recreation/Victory Garden website at newtown-ct.gov.

To any new volunteer teams, Friedman said, “It’s a big time commitment. You have to take a row for a growing season. It’s a season of really hard work.”

Tending a row involves cultivating, planting, maintaining, and harvesting the produce. Everything grown is donated to local food pantries, Friedman said.

Items provided to gardeners include wood chips, compost, water, and the rows, she said. Water is turned on in May.

Rows are tended 100 percent by volunteers, and while some have already been renewed, remaining rows are available. First-time gardeners are welcome, she said.

According to its website, the Victory Garden provides fresh produce to the food pantries in Newtown. Last season, the Victory Garden donated more than 3,500 pounds of “fresh, healthy produce to our neediest families.”

The site has full sun, and parking is nearby.

Garden guidelines as they appear online:

*Volunteers should form teams and will receive a 150-square-foot plot of garden. The produce will go directly to the food pantries. Share the work with a team; learn from each other and other teams.

*Each team should have a placard/sign on its row with a team name. The funnier the better!

*There are no fees associated with the garden.

*No non-organic herbicides or pesticides are allowed in the garden. Fertilizers are allowed.

Help With Garden Preparation And Planning

Experienced vegetable gardeners are encouraged to teach novice gardeners and students. Holding a workshop or class at the garden is welcome.

Students needing volunteer hours are welcome, as are Girl Scout and Eagle Scout projects.

For those who do not have the time to fully commit to owning a row, the program allows community or shared rows.

Donations are welcome. All donations are made through the Parks and Recreation Department, 8 Simpson Street, Newtown CT 06470; Park Gift Fund, memo: Victory Garden.

Farm To Table Fundraising Dinner

Victory Garden organizers are “excited” about an upcoming “first-ever farm-to-table fundraising dinner” to be held at Newtown Community Center on August 15, Friedman said. Funds will support the construction of raised garden beds, making the garden more sustainable and “a true showplace for community gardens.”

Garden supporters are just now starting to fundraise. The goal is to raise $25,000.

“We are also reaching out to other companies in town to receive major support, and reaching out to local businesses,” Friedman said.

Tickets for the dinner will go on sale in May; the ticket price is to be determined.

Sponsorship opportunities include platinum sponsors, $1,000; gold sponsors, $500; silver sponsors, $250; and friends of the Victory Garden, with contributions of $100 or less.

Presented by the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department, 2020 Farm To Table fundraiser flyers are going out to potential sponsors and local businesses, Friedman said.

The flyer states, “Experience the delectable flavors of Newtown with vegetables picked fresh from the Victory Garden, all prepared by a well-known local chef & caterer, Pam Buchler, using only farm-fresh products grown by our local farmers.”

According to the flyer, a variety of beers will be provided by NewSylum Brewery, and wine will also be available for cocktail hour.

“Scrumptious desserts lovingly handmade by our garden volunteers using fruits from the Victory Garden orchard trees (donated in memory of Sandy Hook) will celebrate our final course. Don’t miss our first Farm to Table dinner and help us make the Garden grow,” the flyer adds.

Contact Friedman at 203-470-4150 or gailfried47@gmail.com for additional information.