Auburn Community Gardens

The Auburn Community Gardens are managed by a coordinating team comprised of the City of Auburn, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Androscoggin Land Trust, a neighborhood resident, and a Garden Coordinator.

The Garden projects wouldn’t have been successful without the support from: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Food Fund, Community Garden/Farming grant, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance, Community Development Block Grants, and Fiskars Project Orange Thumb. We would also like to recognize Take 2, a program of Goodwill NNE, Lewiston Regional Technical Center (LRTC), Wolf Pack Fitness & Edward Little High School.

WEBSTER STREET LOCATION

The Webster Street Community Garden includes 24 plots consisting of 4x10 foot raised beds; a few are designed to be accessible for people with mobility impairments. This fenced in garden includes a compost area, a shed for tools, seeds, seedlings, and water access for all gardeners. Each Plot has a $10 fee per year.

NEWBURY STREET LOCATION

The Newbury Street garden is home to 40 raised beds which are approximately 4x10 feet each; a few are designed to be accessible for people with mobility impairments. This fenced in garden includes a compost area, a shed for tools, seeds, seedlings, and water access for all gardeners. Each Plot has a $10 fee per year.

APPLYING FOR A PLOT:

The first chance to apply for a plot will be the Garden Application Party, on Thursday, March 28, 2019 in Lewiston at St. Mary's Nutrition Center.

Prospective gardeners will also be able to apply at weekly Open Garden Hours. These are times each week when the coordinator is present to assist gardeners or welcome community members to the garden--registered gardeners are able to access the garden at any time. This year's open garden hours for Auburn will be:

Webster Street - Mondays, 4pm-6pm except the first Monday of the month will be 4pm-5pm.

Newbury Street - Wednesdays, 4pm-6pm

Open Garden Hours will begin the week of April 15th, as long as the snow has melted. If it's raining, we'll postpone/cancel open garden hours and will try to announce any cancellations via text, email, or Facebook post when possible. The last date to apply for a plot will be May 15th.

After you have applied, the Garden Coordinator will contact you to let you know if there is a plot open.You will only be officially registered for a plot once you have been accepted, paid your fee, and had an on-site orientation with the Garden Coordinator.

Returning gardeners get first priority to register for their plots again, followed by households in the immediate garden neighborhoods who meet the city's guidelines for low-income qualifications, followed by anyone living in Auburn if there is room left at either garden. Those who do not receive a plot for the season will be placed on a waiting list in case any gardeners are not able to garden their plots. For those who are on the waitlist, we may also have other opportunities to engage with the gardens such as volunteering or community workdays. Stay tuned for news of a third garden, coming to Auburn in 2020!

CHARIS HEISEY