Community Corner
Mansfield Growing Community Garden with Help from Foxborough Chef, Hock YMCA
Mansfield opens first community garden, like Foxborough's, where residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables during the summer and fall.
The Mansfield Community Garden held its grand opening Tuesday, and now allows residents to come and plant their own vegetables during the season.
“I really have to say, I’m thrilled with all the progress that has been made over here,” Mansfield Board of Selectmen Chair Olivier Kozlowski said.
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The Hockomock YMCA will be operating the community garden during its operation this summer as part of their Healthy Futures initiative.
“This is an exciting day for the YMCA out here,” Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA said. “Look behind us and think of the kids that are going to be out there, growing healthy foods, kids will be here enjoying the fresh air and most importantly it gives an opportunity to spend time with their families.”
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The garden will grow vegetables for residents, by either letting residents pick out a plot and grow themselves or by ordering vegetables from a plot week to week. Families can purchase a 10’ by 20 ‘ or 20’ by 20’ plot to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers or herd from June to October.
Foxborough’s Tastings Bar and Bistro also helped in the creation of the garden, and will also be reaping the “fruits of the labor,” so to speak.
Chef Benjamin Lacy of tastings said that he is extremely happy that his restaurant is able to buy locally and know exactly what they are serving.
“I’m really really excited to start working with the YMCA and do other events, and show people what it’s like to cook from the ground,” he said. “We can take great vegetables that we’re getting and make wonderful things out of them.”
Kozlowski said he got the idea from other towns’ community gardens, such as Foxborough.
“I started thinking that wouldn’t it be nice to have something like that here in Mansfield,” he said.
Kozlowski said that he was aware of a lot of land owned by the town for conservation purposes, and wanted to utilize it for the benefit of the town.
He presented the idea to the Mansfield Board of Selectmen, and from there has been working with the Mansfield Conservation Commission, the Mansfield Garden Club, the Keep Mansfield Beautiful Committee and the Hockomock YMCA.
“It’s great to see farming back on Essex Street,” said state representative Jay Barrows. “I think when I was about four or five years old there was a couple of farms out here. It’s awesome to see us pull this all together.”
To reserve a plot, contact Caitlin Hurley at caitlinh@hockymca.org.
