The New Sanford Community Garden Is Reborn

Sheila DiPace

On March 24th the Sanford Community Garden hosted a grand re-opening celebration, complete with a ribbon cutting with Mayor Jeff Triplett, surrounded by city leaders, gardeners, volunteers and supporters, who all were thanked by garden president, Sheila DiPace. Gratitude was extended to Lowes of Sanford, Boy Scouts Troop 849, Sanford Parks and Recreation Division, supporters of the garden raffle and volunteers. Boasting twice the planting space with 47 beds at 4×16 feet, an expanded area for education, bat house, composters, Kid Plot, Herbal and Butterfly plots -the garden is bursting with life and happy gardeners.

In the new educational area, the Mayor’s Youth Council will be growing for the local Boys and Girls Club. With funding they hope for a covered educational space where groups of children could learn everything from how to grow veggies to nature-based art or creative writing. “Children spend just minutes per day outdoors and are missing out on so much-and not just knowing where their food comes from but reverence for the planet and all its life forms. This spot with its 11-acre park is a perfect place to grow all kinds of creativity,” said DiPace. “We love this park so much we have officially adopted it and conduct quarterly clean-ups.”

This is a private organic garden, where residents rent plots annually, but on the second Saturday of each month it’s open to the community to visit, pull weeds and learn. After an hour of weeding they have a guest speaker. On June 9th bee educator Jason Deeringer of BeeSerious.Inc will be speaking at 9 am.

“The garden grows so much more than vegetables,” said DiPace. “It grows community. But it takes a community of support to make that happen, and for that we are eternally grateful.”

Dipace received an award from Mayor Triplett during the May Commission meeting for her dedication and passion for the community garden. For more information or to get on the waiting list for a plot, go to www.sanfordcommunitygarden.com

Sheila DiPace
Sanford Community Garden President
www.SanfordCommunityGarden.com

SanfordCommunityGarden@gmail.com