Community Gardens Could Bring

People Back To The Earth

What tastes better than a red, ripe, juicy tomato straight from the garden?  What’s healthier and more nutritious than organic, pesticide-free broccoli, green beans or carrots? What activity provides as many benefits for the body, mind and soul as gardening does?

Back to the Earth project coordinators think the answer to all three questions is Nothing. Nothing beats fresh, “home-grown” veggies for taste, for nutrition, and for overall health.

This spring, Back to the Earth, a project of Trinity Productions, is establishing community gardens in Newtown and surrounding towns.

Public and private landowners have offered Back to the Earth their land for community gardens. Area businesses, such as Agway Agriventures of New Milford and Danbury, have agreed to donate supplies and information. Avid gardeners are interested in sharing the knowledge and experience they have acquired through years of gardening.

People who want to garden but don’t have the land can finally start digging in the earth. Home gardeners who can’t maintain their own gardens by themselves can work with others in a community-type setting.  

Students can even apply the time spent working with Back to the Earth towards the community service hours required by their school.

Locally grown, organic vegetables are healthier and more nutritious than store-bought and growing your own food can help reduce anyone’s food budget.

Gardeners will be able to choose from a variety of properties and gardening styles. Cindy Miller, president of Trinity Productions and one of the team members behind the inspiration for the Back to the Earth project, will provide gardeners with land on her property where they can plant and harvest their own choice of vegetables, herbs and flowers.

At the home of Jeanne and Bob Foege, gardeners will work together as a team, planting, maintaining, harvesting and sharing all of the produce grown.

Both methods — individual plots and “team” plots — are intended to engender the sense of community that comes from working together towards a common goal. 

From kids to seniors, new to experienced gardeners, all are invited to join the Back to the Earth project. The only requirements are an interest in learning about or sharing a knowledge of gardening and a commitment to working with others to produce beautiful, productive, pesticide-free, healthy gardens. 

Anyone interested in joining the Back to the Earth community garden project as a gardener or as a property owner willing to share land, or anyone who would like to donate supplies, expertise or money, is invited to contact Cindy Miller at 426-9448 or trinity@TrinityProduction.org.

Back to the Earth is a project of Trinity Productions, which is a nonprofit learning center whose mission is to inspire and promote the highest level of personal growth of spirit, mind, and body through creative and interactive educational programs for all ages.