PICKERINGTON

NEWS & INFORMATION FROM THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON

Community Gardens

Community leaders are pleased with the 2011 Pickerington Community Gardens.

“There was quite a variety of crops this year. It made a great view on Rt. 256, entering or leaving Pickerington,” Recreation Administrator Rebecca Medinger said.

All 62 plots were rented. Several unforeseen events caused five gardeners to abandon their parts of the project early, but the excellent spring and summer weather, combined with what one official called

“a group of talented and enthusiastic gardeners,” created a green and successful expanse.

“Their stories are fascinating. One person planted for his grandson; another did it to share a project with his daughters. Many planted to donate produce to the PCMA Food Pantry. We had a good summer and good tenants. The only real problem was too much rain in the late spring,” Medinger said.

This was the third year of operation for the gardens, located on Rt. 256 at the eastern boundary of the City. In 2010, the rented areas grew by 30 percent. This year, the growth was 33 percent. That growth may be over, since all available land at the site was tilled and utilized this summer.

Officials have discussed opening another garden site in another location, but nothing has been determined.

Current gardeners are asked to clear objects –spikes, fences, stakes, screens, signs, scarecrows, etc.— from their plots by Oct. 31.