Plants and Friendships Blossom at Seekonk Community Garden

Seekonk is growing…literally. Three years ago what was once a vacant lot is now an ever-expanding garden. Due to increased demand, The Seekonk Community Garden has gone from 10 individual plots last year to 18 this year. 

In 2009 residents Priscilla Dunn and her sister-in-law, Leslie Dunn, facilitated the creation of the garden in the vacant lot at the edge of The Seekonk Common, a senior housing complex maintained by the Housing Authority. With the permission of the Housing Authority, and along with help from Galena Kouptsova, a resident at the Common, and two, now resigned, Human Services employees, the garden came to fruition.

Their volunteer work has been greatly bolstered by the amount of support they’ve received from the community. Local farmer Walter Horton plows the land at the start of each season, while Kenneth Martin built them a shed and compost pile as part of his Eagle Scout project last year. Foxx Fence provided a fence and gate along the front border of the garden, and a maintenance person at The Commons mows the paths between plots. Dunn also says folks are always stopping by to pass off manure, hay or other gardening items to the cause.

Kouptsova, who maintains three plots with her family, is enthusiastic about her garden’s bounty.

“Last year I didn’t buy vegetables the whole summer, July 1 to October,” she says. “Eggplant, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes everywhere. I brought them to neighbors and church members. We had parsley, peas, dill. Just fresh salad every day from the garden.”

Kouptsova says an important aspect of the garden is the “fellowship” it offers. She says friendships are forged among fellow gardeners, while residents of the housing complex often visit just to check progress on the plants and enjoy the flowers. Even Kouptsova’s four-year-old granddaughter is in on the process, helping to harvest carrots, most especially.

Currently, there are four four by 18-foot plots still available for this season. Priority is given to residents of The Seekonk Common, then Seekonk residents, then residents of other towns. The gardens are chemical-free and mainly practice organic growing methods. There is a one time seasonal fee of $10 to help offset related expenses. Anyone interested in a plot can contact Priscilla Dunn at (508) 336- 7995 to receive an application and release form. They are currently seeking donations of tables, chairs abd benches so visitors can enjoy the gardens more.