With the $98k grant secured, and spring, really, around the corner the Parks and Rec department is gearing up for the community garden sign ups. Director Mike Mocciae is already impressed with the groundswell of support. He said today that he’s had over 70 phone calls about obtaining a plot, and many more from volunteers offering to help manage the garden.
It wouldn’t surprise him to see a line on opening day of sign ups, which he’s planned for April 15th, (the doors open at 8:30 AM), and ending on May 1st. There’s a $5 per plot fee, and a sign up form to fill out and then its up to Mother Nature. Actually its still up to Mother Nature, as the weather hasn’t been helping the time line in preparing the site for the garden. Meanwhile there’s still a zoning issue to contend with, but you’ll have to contend with some radio silence on that front as I switch zoning gears.
Much thought has been put into the idea, some of which dates back to a 1996 business plan, a copy of which was supplied by Diane Lauricella to Mike Mocciae. The plan was once circulating City Hall during the Esposito years, but took the usual Norwalk Minute for the idea to take hold. According to Mocciae, the idea resurfaced once the Gabrielle Grode from the Health Department sought a partnership for a grant opportunity. The collaboration expanded from a bilingual nutrition program to the full fledged community garden very quickly. The disposition of the property, at long last, was opportune timing as well.
Plans for Fodor Farm include a berry garden, children’s garden, raised beds for seniors and wheelchair accessible, and areas for taller crops. In addition plans are underway for restoring the main house on the property, next to the proposed garden. Faesy-Smith Architects is doing some probono evaluation of the structure to help the city prepare the site for bids.
Community gardens are all the rage now. The Courant ran an article, Garden Fever Spreading, highlighting the popularity last weekend. The Westport garden has its own web site, westportgardens.org. With the support, interest and popularity of locally grown produce, Fodor Farm, returning to its roots, is a good story for Norwalk.
Yes! Thanks to everybody who got it this far. The city and Rec and Parks could use the good PR. Thanks Gabrielle and Mike, and don’t forget the Historic Commission that got the farm purchased to begin with. Boy do they need some positive news for a change!
Will there be contests and prizes for largest or best-looking veggies? That’s always a fun incentive to tend the garden.
This is awesome finally as said before positive news.Thank you Mike, Diane and Gabrielle.
Glad the sub-division proposal, so many years ago, was declined.
Nice to see the mayor’s grant coordinator earning her much ballyhooed keep. Oh, wait, it was someone in the Health Dept. who managed to get the grant. Never mind.
Much better results than Knopp’s grant coordinator Pam Stark who was a total flop.
This is a great project that they have undertaken. I have requested 2 spaces for NNHT so the teens can grow their own flowers and veggies. Its a great community project that I hope many teens will be receptive to the idea and truly get involved in the project.
Let’s not forget the kindergartners who came up with a garden idea way before Mike Mocciae….
NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS 125 East Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06852-6001
Fax: 854-4005
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Sheri L. McCready, Public Affairs Officer
Date: May 25, 2004
Phone: 203 854-4015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kindergarteners Save Fodor Farm
Norwalk, CT— On Wednesday, May 26, 11am, at Brookside Elementary School, the Norwalk Preservation Trust will award its first Preservation Awareness Award to Ms. Mary Luf’s kindergarten class for their outstanding science fair project entitled “Save Fodor Farm.” The award ceremony will feature a powerpoint presentation of the ‘Save Fodor Farm’ project that will be presented by the students who created it as well as a brief presentation by NPT board member Bill Kraus on the Farm’s history and the NPT’s own proposal for the Farm. Mayor Alex Knopp, Superintendent Sal Corda and other Norwalk officials are expected to attend the all school assembly.
As part of the science fair project, the class created their own ‘kindergarten land trust’ with a board and mission statement. In the midst of the construction-taking place at Brookside, the students studied historic, but deteriorating farmhouses as well as its rare and rural landscape. As a result, the class developed creative solutions for both the houses and the farmland. The students’ creative solutions to the historic site include the following ideas:
• create a nature center
• make nature trails
• plant a butterfly/hummingbird garden
• assemble nesting boxes for owls
Their ideas which were expressed in their own writing, drawings and dioramas, won first place ‘Best in Show’—meaning all school, all city, all grade (K-5) in the science fair.
The idea for this clever collaboration came about earlier this year. NPT was working on a proposal for Fodor Farm. NPT board member, Blake Ward, upon picking up his child at school, saw the science fair project about Fodor Farm at the school. Mr. Ward presented the idea to the NPT board who was immediately interested in pursuing the project with the students.
The Norwalk Preservation Trust was formed in February 2003. The group chose its name to reflect the continuation of the Norwalk Preservation Trust that was founded in the 1980’s. At that time, the group was instrumental in saving SoNo and many other historic structures. The group is very active and successful in working cooperatively with private owners, city agencies, commissions and government on preservation issues and creating workable solutions.
Fox Run has its own garden in the courtyard. I think its a great idea for the city and a very good way to get the kids involved in something they can be proud of. Alot of kids live in condo’s or apartment buildings and otherwise have nowhere to grow anything. Unless of course you call those sad little dixie cups sitting in the kitchen window that eventually someone throws out. I certainly hope those adopting these spots are going to give equal time to the kids. Maybe that will give them something to do with their time instead of having idle hands. Its about time this city does something as a community.
Where is the article and who gets to have a spot?
What a good idea to finally do something with that property. gardens just enhance it that much more. Hope people who adopt these spots really take care of them. For $5 there’s got to be so many people who would love to tend a beautiful garden. They should have a contest on the middle of the summer for the best garden.
The Norwalk Emergency
Shelter is in need of the following
items, among others: Vegetables,
rice, instant mashed potatoes,
garlic/onion powder, pasta sauce,
coffee, razors, oatmeal, cereal,
pancake mix and syrup, mayonnaise,
barbeque sauce, ketchup,
tuna, lunch meats, Spam, drink
mix, noodles, pasta, fresh/canned
fruit, cookies, saltine crackers,
Pampers (size 3 and up), female
sanitary products, and BIC
Cristal Gel Blue Pens (medium
point). Donations may be dropped
at the shelter at 4 Merritt St. For
more information, call (203) 866-
having the farmers market near the shelter as it was next to the aquarium gave a lot to places like our shelter, so again as it was asked when does ours open?
#11-If anyone who is coming to clean Flax Hill Park would like like to bring a couple items for the shelter, i would be more than happy to deliver them myself. So, on that note: anyone who plans to come help NNHT cleanup Flax Hill Park on Sunday Morning and play a game of softball is welcome to bring a donation for the shelter and I will bring it to them! Hope to see lots of teens and parents on Sunday to kick off spring and healthy parks!
thank you NNHT
Hi All! Im so excited about this..I hope I get a garden plot! However I do have some questions I hope someone can answer. 1. is there anything that will prevent someone from taking anothers produce from their garden? or is it just “honor system”? Will there be any restrictions on what kind of chemicals can be used in individual garden plots? I intend to attempt to grow everything organically but if my neighbor is going to use pesticide, herbicide, and others “cides”, I wouldnt like to have my crops contaminated. Can someone email me if they have answers? lovesublime_40@yahoo.com Thanks!!
Hi Lindsay,
I would suggest going to Parks and Rec and they will have all the ground rules etc. printed out for you. You also have to go there to sign up for a plot.
If you would like to register for a garden plot at the community garden, be sure to go to the Department of Recreation & Parks at City Hall on Tuesday morning. Also, we will be having a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 18th at 2 pm at Fodor Farm. Thanks for all of the interest!
This is a great thing and depending on how many spaces are available I should think that it will get alot of attention.
Today is the day to sign up for your spaces at Fodor farm. I hope alot of people will take advantage of this great community opportunity
I heard they were all gone today. Hopefully they will get the 2 houses sold and start restoring the main one soon.
YAY I got my plot I got my plot!
NOW…how do we know which plot is ours when we go to the farm?
You will be given a plot# I’m sure. call Rec and parks and ask them.
Now that the area is being utilized, a round of applause goes to those who originally worked to help save Fodor Farm.