Victory Garden At Fairfield Hills—

Clearing The Way For A Community Garden

By Kendra Bobowick

Peeled back in rows revealing bare ground Tuesday, May 3, were rolls of sod uncovering the space for a new community Victory Garden.

“It would have taken volunteers a thousand years to do this!” joked project coordinator Harvey Pessin, who envisions a plot of community-grown produce to benefit the FAITH Food Pantry.

In past weeks Mr Pessin’s and food pantry co-chair Lee Paulsen’s vision to grow fresh food for those using the food pantry found both support and assistance from the town government. Parks and Recreation staff this week began clearing the grass from a parcel of land near the old main entrance to Fairfield Hills off of Wasserman Way and across from Reed Intermediate School.

Watching town crewman Archie Paloian operating the machinery and pulling up layers of lawn, Mr Pessin said Tuesday, “For a year-and-a-half I was looking for a home for this place.” Taking photos and watching patches of bare soil emerge, he added, “I had spoken to everybody; throwing [the garden concept] against the wall to see what sticks. It stuck here.” He credits the town, mentioning the recreation department staff and First Selectman Pat Llodra for assistance.

Glancing across the field where rows of exposed earth emerged slowly while Mr Paloian worked, Mr Pessin noted that the garden project had finally begun. The recreation department would pull up the lawn, provide water to the area, and set up chain-link fencing, he said. “What else could I want?”

Sod lifted from the field will be composted and reused as topsoil in the future. “The phrase is, ‘Nothing leaves the garden,’” Mr Pessin said. Learn more about the project at www.FoodPantryGarden.org.

Listing on the site include how to help, and who to contact to volunteer time. Donations can be made through the Parks and Recreation Department Park Gift Fund, with the memo Victory Garden. Residents can contact Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold at 203-270-4340 for additional information.

“Volunteer your time,” prompts the website. Individuals or teams can plant, cultivate, and harvest garden rows. Volunteers can also assist with construction, lend their experience, etc. To sign up for a row, contact Mr Pessin at harve9@yahoo.com.