FORT RIVER
GARDEN
What is the Fort River Garden?
The Fort River Garden was started by a group of community volunteers and staff from Healthy Hampshire and the Town of Amherst that formed the Fort River Community Garden Circle, which functions like a collective. The garden is located at the Fort River Farm Conservation Area, which is owned by the Town of Amherst and managed by the Town of Amherst Conservation Department!
Aims
Sustaining the Fort River Community Garden by ensuring that the space is functional, that the community is engaged, and that the space is conducive to the production of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ensuring that the Fort River Community Garden Circle is maintained, and that it is run primarily by, and for gardeners in collaboration with the Town of Amherst and Healthy Hampshire
Creating a culture of learning and sharing to work towards a vision of food justice
Providing ongoing support to gardeners and the garden throughout the growing season (i.e. continue to provide workshops and educational resources to gardeners)
Domains
Design/implementation of the Garden
L NH
Sign-up and Recruitment Process
Ongoing Garden Management
Outreach about the Garden
Develop community partnerships
Info about the garden
The entire garden area, which is enclosed by a fence, is grassy, uneven soil. Soon, there will be mulched pathways, but we expect that the ground will continue to be somewhat uneven, and not suitable for wheelchairs. The raised beds are 1.5 feet high, with pathways between that are greater than three feet. Currently, the only water available is through a hand pump, and water has to be carried from the pump to the plots (we plan to have a water tank and hoses available in the next month). The pump is located on the fence side of the raised beds. We will have a toolbox with basic tools such as shovels, trowels and watering cans that are available for anyone to use.
If you are interested in applying for a gardening plot at the Fort River Farm Community garden, please click here to complete and submit your application. For more information about Community Gardens - please call Angela 413-259-3292
We are asking for a $10 donation to garden with us this season. Please mail your check made out to "Town of Amherst" to: Conservation Dept., Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002.
We invite you to watch the promotional video below for more information. Video was produced by Benjamin Byman (Summer Intern 2021 - Houston Fellowship - Amherst College).