Andover Community Garden

Mission

Our mission is to educate our members about organic gardening and to provide opportunities to them so that they can grow and harvest vegetables, herbs and flowers within a welcoming community setting.

Garden plots are open to all residents of Andover and surrounding towns who join our Association. Plots that are turning over are offered yearly to people on the waiting list on a first come, first serve basis. This process begins about March each year and runs through May. All our plots are taken for 2023. If you requested a plot and we have not contacted you, you will not get a plot this year. We will however keep your name on our waiting list.

Each Association member contributes an annual plot fee to cover maintenance. To be part of our association, you must be willing to agree to our requirements. These are fairly standard rules for community gardens, with requirements such as gardening organically and participating in workdays and cleanups; and we do try to help new folks with this request by giving lessons/ideas for how to garden organically. Once rented, you plant up your plot, harvest and maintain your own plot for your own family’s use during the gardening season. 

Garden Managers

High Plain Garden: Your garden managers are: Yolanda Chico Miller, Lauren Conoscenti, Lisette Pylant, Jane Ward and Viki Vasquez. Viki and Jane are your plant gardening gurus. All other problems (general questions, hoses, water, locks, vacation, etc.) should be raised with your other three managers or the help line: help@andovergarden.com. 

Both gardens are now officially open for the 2023 season! 

Thank you to Viki for leading a very helpful opening class with details on soil amendments, planting timelines, and more! Additional guidance and other resources can be found in several topic areas: watering, soil enhancements, and spring planting tips on the Resources page..

Additionally, while we are currently having it tested, the compost from the town (located in the lot opposite High Plain) seems especially good this year. We encourage folks to take a wheelbarrow over to gather some for your plots - the attendant is happy to direct you; just let them know you’re from the garden. To bring a car over, register with the town and receive a sticker. 

Lisette Pylant, Chair of the Board

Viki's Advice on Soil Preparation

In terms of enrichment and amendments (notice I don’t say fertilizers) to your plot, these should be added asap before any major planting gets done.  Anytime in the next 5 days would be an excellent time with the cooler temps and expected rainfall. Please note not all gardeners need to make the same additions.

Blood Meal (12-0-0):  All High Plain  plots need this Nitrogen supplement.
For the newer beds (North side of the garden towards the open meadow) add 1.25-1.5 lbs. The lesser amount to the smaller plots and the larger amount to the 5x25’s. Repeat this amount in mid-June.

For the original garden plots, those numbered 1-28, add 1-1.25 lbs of Blood Meal.  The larger amount to the 4x20 beds. This same amount will be added again in mid-June. These beds also need Potash/Potassium.  The larger beds need 0.8 lbs and the smaller 0.4 lbs.

Numbered plots, 29-42, need 1.25 lbs of  Blood Meal for the 5x20’s and half of that for the  5x10’s . A repeat application mid-June of the same amounts will be needed.  No Potash is needed.

No general fertilizer with all three number (e.g.10-10-10) is necessary.  We’ve had some issues with over-fertilization the last couple years so save your money on those handy bags of all-purpose garden fertilizers.   Do not ever use any “blue granules or liquid” fertilizer, even if the claim is “Organic.”

Lastly, feel free to add Compost as Lisette mentions above. Avoid the garden soil mixes even if it says “ with compost.”  

Questions? Comments? Help with maintenance or growing?  Contact us at help@andovergarden.com.