Gardening is a popular hobby. It’s a passion for some and therapy for others. Sadly, however, not everyone has the resources to take up the activity.
Got a green thumb but no place to stick it? Fret no more. For $27, you can reserve your very own garden plot in the city of Santa Maria’s Community Garden.
“It is beneficial for the people who don’t have the garden space or are looking for more of a community setting,” said Dennis Smitherman of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. “It’s a great way to meet people.”
The garden is at Alice Trefts Park, 510 East Park Ave., in Santa Maria. The park is next to the Elwin Mussell Senior Center. The five-acre lot houses 100 plots that can be used to grow flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other plants.
There are currently 14 plots available, five of which are ADA accessible. Plot rentals can be made at the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, 615 S. McClelland Street.
Plot rentals are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so act quickly if you want to scratch your gardening itch.
“They formed quite a group,” Smitherman said about local gardeners making use of the plot. “They just had a community garden picnic and things like that. The demographic varies immensely, every age group is out there.”
Intern Jacob Lopez compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 3, 2011.