Community Garden: OPENING - May 20

Good Morning,

I hope you are doing well and have managed to remain healthy.  With much excitement, we will be opening the Community Garden on Wednesday, May 20 with restrictions.  Please see the important attachment which has some very specific guidelines for all our safety during COVID-19.  Town of Franklin parks and playgrounds will remain closed until further notice, but I feel we can garden as long as we follow the guidelines. 

DPW will turn the water on next week.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Franklin Community Gardens

Garden Rules and Regulations

Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to establish the eligibility requirements and the rules of garden use for Franklin Community Gardens.

Scope:

All gardeners and volunteers who use the gardens that are part of Franklin Community Gardens.

General Information:

• Eligibility for garden space: Application for garden bed lease shall be open to any current resident, property owner, local community group, business operator, or employee of the Town of Franklin.
• Gardener dues are: $40.00 per season.
• Gardeners may sign up or renew beds through the Town of Franklin Recreation Department, phone: (508) 613-1666, email: franklinrecreation@franklin.ma.us.
• Leased beds may be renewed to gardeners in good standing.
• If any unassigned beds remain after June 1 and there is no one on the wait list, the Garden Committee will notify gardeners that additional beds are available. Gardeners may then have the option of leasing one additional bed for that growing season only. The additional bed is not automatically renewable.
• The Garden Committee is responsible for ensuring that the rules are followed at all times.

Rules and Regulations:

• As a gardener, I accept and will abide by the following:
• I will actively garden my bed during the gardening season
• If I must abandon my bed for any reason, I will notify the current Garden Coordinator
• I will keep my bed weeded and free of trash and debris, and I will maintain the areas immediately surrounding my bed, including pathways, in the same manner
• If my bed becomes poorly maintained, I understand I will be contacted by a member of the Garden Committee via email on record. I will have one week to respond. If the Committee receives no response after that time, my bed will be reassigned
• If I am unable to maintain my bed for any reason, whether short term or long term, I will notify the Recreation Department at (508) 613-1666 immediately
• The Community Garden requires ongoing maintenance. Therefore, I agree to complete at least 4 hours per season toward garden maintenance.
• I will harvest my bed in a timely manner
• At the close of gardening season, I will remove all non-wintering plants and man-made objects from in and around my bed. Objects are not to be stored on the ground next to beds for safety reasons. Storage is available in the shed. Additionally, I will compost all non-wintering plants in my bed
• I will garden only in my own bed unless given permission by another bed user
• I understand all beds at Franklin Community Gardens will be organic and that the use of non-organic fertilizers, insecticides or weed repellents is forbidden. When in doubt, contact the Garden Coordinator
• I understand that I will be held responsible for guests I bring to Franklin Community Gardens
• I will not bring pets to the garden
• I understand that my bed is not transferable
• I understand that the Town of Franklin is not responsible for my actions. I therefore agree to hold harmless the Town of Franklin for any liability, damage, loss or claim that occurs in connection with use of the garden by me or any of my guests
• Franklin Community Garden reserves the right to revoke bed use if a gardener violates any rules and regulations established by the Town or by Franklin Community Gardens. No refund will be provided for any garden beds that have been revoked due to misuse
• I will abide by all rules and regulations established by Franklin Parks and Recreation for the use of Municipal Facilities

Happy Gardening,

Ryan Jette
Director of Recreation
Franklin Recreation Department
275 Beaver Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Office: (508) 613-1667

Link to additional info
https://drive.google.com/open?id=12ynYstU_260A1Pi0ZEJjGikUJJ_qvfHa

The last time I was at the community garden was in the BCE (before coronavirus era) Dec 26, 2019

FM #261 VFJ Renovations - Empowering through Gardening 5/01/20 (audio)

FM #261 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 261 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Jessi and Vinny Faneule, of VFJ Renovations. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I was excited to have this call as I say during the session (in my words, and butchering theirs) they had me with the line in their essay that I shared here earlier:

“getting back to where we were is complicated, and begs the question: Was where we were, where we want to be?”

We discussed their raised garden bed initiative, to empower us with gardening.

Note: in reviewing the recording, we realized that the mention of “Richard” Means was really "Russell" Means, the American Indian activist and actor. Russell’s father was of the Ogala band of the Lakota Nation. The quote mentioned is a paraphrase of the text that can be found in Russell's autobiography. The full quote is also included below.

The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jessi and Vinny   

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-261-vfj-renovations-5-01-20

--------------

The essay that got me excited
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/voices-of-franklin-get-back-to-where-we.html

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VFJ-Renovations-336675640619192/

VFJ Renovations webpage and ordering process
https://www.vfjrenovations.com/empower-with-gardening-initiative

Russell Means - wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Means
Autobiography https://www.amazon.com/Where-White-Fear-Tread-Autobiography/dp/0312147619

The full text that was paraphrased during the conversation:

"We knew the universe and how it includes and interacts with our Grandmother. Before I was six years old, my grandparents and my mother had taught me that if all the green things that grow were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all the four-legged creatures were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all the winged creatures were taken from the earth, there could be no life. If all our relatives who crawl and swim and live within the earth were taken away, there could be no life. But if all the human beings were taken away, life on earth would flourish.

That is how insignificant we are."

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Voices of Franklin: Get Back To Where We Were?

This spring we have been witness to people in leadership positions emphasizing the need for our economy and society to return to “normal” as soon as possible. But getting back to where we were is complicated, and begs the question: Was where we were, where we want to be?

When there are disruptions in our lives, we don’t believe it is prudent to rush back to the way things were. Instead, such disturbances afford us the opportunity to carefully reflect on the situation by asking: Where were we? What does the shakeup reveal? What of the past do we carry forward with us? How do we move forward in a way that allows us to cope and make our lives better?

As we reflect on the COVID-19 crisis this spring and all that we and others have to do to survive, we can’t help but think of our sustenance. Some of us feel vulnerable and confused by what roles we should play for our individual and families’ sustainability, and for what personal responsibilities we can own during this crisis.

This spring’s interruption of our “normal” existence is an opportunity to not only be socially conscious, but to empower ourselves. This is the year to GROW a GARDEN. It is the time to think about digging up part of that lawn. It is about helping out in the community gardens and installing planters or raised beds. NOW is the time for a movement towards gardening so that we can learn to enjoy the intrinsic value that lies in the preparation, sowing, cultivation, and reaping.

Gardening, in all its forms, will give you back more than the labor it takes. It provides opportunities to connect with the earth, and extends to you moments of teaching and learning. If you are patient you will see that gardening is about social responsibility, confidence, and empowerment.

Gardening grants time for community and family cultivation and, on top of it all, gives you those delicious fruits and vegetables of which you can say with pride, “I grew that!”


‘Tis the season,
Vincent Fanuele and Jessi Fanuele 
VFJ Renovations, Inc.

VFJ Renovations, Inc.

Find VFJ on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/336675640619192/photos/a.550464219240332/550462509240503/?type=3&theater

Franklin Community Garden Status

Good Morning,

The Town of Franklin and Franklin School Department have taken serious measures to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We have temporarily closed all public buildings, parks and playgrounds through May 3rd. We hope to resume all activities and open facilities on Monday, May 4th. 

We understand how important the Community Garden is for mental health, physical exercise and access to fresh food. But, given the current situation and the guidance from public health officials on social distancing, we are postponing the opening of the gardens until May 4th. 

We want to limit in-person social interactions and avoiding spaces where people congregate in close quarters. We are particularly concerned about the spread of the virus through hard surfaces and shared equipment. I understand this will make folks anxious and irritable, but we ask that you please be patient with us as we fight through this difficult time.

We have already taken steps to close facilities, including:
· Locking permanent fencing gates or installing temporary fencing
· Posting signage
· Wrapping equipment in caution tape

We will continue to use social media (facebook and twitter) and our website to keep folks up to date on parks and playgrounds. You can also follow the Town of Franklin COVID-19 portal.

We are keeping trails open as they provide fresh air and exercise for residents. Please remember to practice social distancing and keep a minimum of 6 feet apart. These trails will remain open for the public to use in responsible ways that protect public health and safety. For information on trails in Franklin, please visit the Recreation Department's Fields/Playgrounds website.

If members of the garden are not comfortable with these rules, we are happy to issue refunds at anytime. We understand these are unusal circumstances.

Sincerely,


Ryan Jette
Director of Recreation
Franklin Recreation Department
275 Beaver Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Office: (508) 613-1667
Email:  rjette@franklinma.gov

My last visit to the garden was a walk by in December 2019

Zipline for kids at King St Memorial Park (video)

A new zipline for kids 5 to 12 years old was installed recently at the King St Memorial Park. On one of my visits to my plot at the Community Garden I captured this video.

Oh to be 11 again! (at least to try this out!)

zipline chair at end of line - more mulch seems to be going to be added at the end of the line

yes, it is restricted to 5-12 year olds with parent supervision

a new climbing rope pyramid was also installed recently

the slide combo was already at the same playground at the King St Memorial Fields

Franklin Public Schools newsletter - June 2019

The Franklin Public Schools newsletter for June 2019 is available for reading and sharing. Note that the underlines indicate links to an additional page. The one page PDF has lots of info!

You can also get your PDF copy directly from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/news/franklinpsnews-june-2019

school is finally all out for the summer!

Franklin Garden Club: meeting on Container Gardening features Kim Cook, Briggs Nursery - May 7

Kim Cook of Briggs Nursery, will present a program on Container Gardening at the Tuesday, May 7, 2019, meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. The meeting will be held at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, from 7 – 9 PM, beginning with an informal social at 6:30 PM. 

It is open to the public at no charge. The presentation will provide information on selecting different types of containers and potting soil, choosing plants that complement each, designing arrangements, and maintaining the containers.

Cook has worked a Briggs Nursery for many years where her responsibilities include designing many of the planters that are on exhibit throughout the nursery. She is experienced in growing many types of plants, including herbs, vegetables, perennials and annuals and in how they may be incorporated into container gardening.

Franklin Garden Club: meeting on Container Gardening features Kim Cook, Briggs Nursery - May 7

Bellingham Community Garden Shares Opportunity for Residents to Grow Their Own Food - limited spots available

The Bellingham Community Garden, which is a collaboration between the Town of Bellingham and the Hockomock Area YMCA, is now accepting registrations for plot rentals. This is a great opportunity to tend your own garden this May through October.

Located at 200 Center Street in Bellingham, the community garden provides 10’ x 20’ plots (roughly), water and some gardening tools, and will run workshops throughout the season. Service learning opportunities can also be arranged for those wishing to volunteer in a community setting. The mission of the Bellingham Community Garden is to promote healthy and active lifestyles by reconnecting individuals to the food they eat and grow.

Plot holders can look forward to a season filled with farm-to-table produce, meeting new neighbors and friends, and engaging in different opportunities for learning.

The plot rental program is open to all community members and offers a gated garden in which members, provided a lock code, will be able to garden from dawn to dusk. The Hockomock YMCA will also facilitate soil testing through UMass Amherst for plot holders interested in optimizing food production.

Interested applicants are asked to fill out a contract, available at www.hockymca.org/garden/, or email communitygarden@hockymca.org to request a contract. Cost for the season is $75 and checks can be made out to Hockomock Area YMCA.

You may also stop by the YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin for details and a contract or call 508-528-8708. Be sure to visit the Bellingham Community Garden on facebook: @bellinghamcommunityfarm.

Bellingham Community Garden Shares Opportunity for
Residents to Grow Their Own Food - limited spots available

About Hockomock Area YMCA: 

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not- for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

Community Garden build day - April 13

The next Build day is scheduled for April 13 at the Community Garden, King St Fields. Some of the garden beds not redone during the 2017 fall season still need to be redone. 

Currently scheduled for 9:00 - 4:00 or earlier if completed earlier.

Community Garden build day - April 13

Seniors - Sign up now for ArtWeek floral arrangement with Garden Club!

As part of the Town of Franklin’s ArtWeek activities, the Franklin Garden Club will partner with the Franklin Senior Center to sponsor a free, fun, hands-on floral arrangement workshop at the Franklin Senior Center on Friday, May 3 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Each participant will create an arrangement to take home. 

No special skills are required and everyone will be able to do it. Franklin Garden Club members will provide simple design instructions and assistance. All containers and many different types of fresh flowers will be provided, along with refreshments. It is open to all seniors from Franklin and other communities. Advanced sign-up is required.

Participants must register by Friday, April 19. They may do so by either calling 508-520-4945 or in person at the Franklin Senior Center between 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday. The Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin.

Franklin Garden Club Co-Presidents Susan Childers and Janet Cederquist stated, “The Garden Club looks forward to offering this ArtWeek activity. Seniors can have fun while creating a beautiful fresh floral arrangement to take home and enjoy for many days.”

Seniors - Sign up now for ArtWeek floral arrangement with Garden Club!

Community Garden Meeting - April 1

Monday, April 1 at 6:30 PM there will be a meeting for all Franklin community garden members.

Director of Recreation; Ryan Jette will go over the community garden rules and regulations, bed renewals/membership, volunteering opportunities, be here to answer any questions you may have and much more. 

We will also have AGWAY owner Melanie Hamblen there to provide gardening insight and input.

The Meeting will be held at the Recreation Department (275 Beaver Street).

If you have any questions, please call our office (508) 613-1666.

Thanks,

Franklin Recreation

Community Garden Meeting - April 1

Franklin Library: Companion Planting and Design - Mar 19

Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens will talk about Companion Planting and Design at the Franklin Library on Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 PM.

Franklin Library: Companion Planting and Design - Mar 19

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/blackstone-valley-veggie-gardens-0

On this date: Mar 6, 2011: The week in Review

Yes, I did a weekly review for a period of time. The time I put into it didn't seem to be worth it in generating more readers or engagement so it came to an end. 

As the Town gets more and more into timely publication of reports, presentations, agendas, and meeting minutes, then perhaps this is something to reconsider. Until then, the podcast will share key meetings or events.

FM #88 - Week ending 3/6/11

Lets take less than ten minutes to review what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends March 6, 2011. 

Time: 6 minutes, 20 seconds

For the full set of show notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/fm-88-week-ending-3611.html

On this date: Mar 6, 2011: The week in Review mentioned the Community Garden

On this date: Feb 27, 2015 - DPW gets grant to curb stormwater

Stepping into the archives for Feb 27, 2015, we find that the DPW had just received a grant to help with storm water management.

"The Department of Public Works plans to use money from a state grant to curb the amount of stormwater draining into the Charles River. 

The town on Tuesday won a $119,000 grant through a state Department of Environmental Protection initiative to help cites and towns manage local water supplies. In all, DEP awarded around $755,000 in grants to 12 communities, including Medway. 

Franklin DPW Robert Cantoreggi said Thursday the grant will fund work to build a water recharge area off Jefferson Road."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150227/NEWS/150226926/1994/NEWS#sthash.qKXmtquO.dpuf

The storm water management efforts by the DPW are plentiful and visible all around Franklin.

Rain gardens, tree wells... the listing goes on. 

DPW Director Cantoreggi will be leaving soon (?) to take the Town Administrator role for Norfolk.

one of the rain gardens at Parmenter School

Franklin Garden Club: “Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” - Feb 5

“Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” will be the focus of the Tuesday, February 5, meeting of the Franklin Garden Club, which is a joint meeting with the Medway Garden Club. 

The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM with a social time from 6:30 – 7:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a club member.

Stephanie Markham, who has established several butterfly gardens, will focus on the importance of butterflies for our environment and how to support them and other pollinators throughout their life cycle in private and community gardens. Butterflies assist in the process of cross pollination. A total of 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of our food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. 

Today, Monarch butterflies and many other pollinators are decreasing because of the loss of their native habitats and a shrinking supply of the plants they rely on for food and nurseries. During her presentation, Markham will show how creating a garden environment that attracts butterflies provides a habitat for a variety of beneficial insects, birds, bees and other wildlife, helping both ourselves and our environment.

Markham, an officer in the Norfolk Garden Club, co-chairs the club’s butterfly garden committee, which establishes and maintains several butterfly gardens around Norfolk, including the one at the Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, which was restored after many years of neglect with the help of a grant from the Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association. 

Markham has been gardening and breeding perennials and award-winning irises for more than 35 years. She is also a beekeeper, a garden and exhibition judge, an officer in several local and national iris societies, and a writer and presenter on various gardening topics.

The Franklin Garden Club, founded in 1987, is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.

Franklin Garden Club: “Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” - Feb 5

Franklin Library: Indoor Seed Starting - Jan 15

A presentation by the Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardening group will cover "Indoor Seed Starting" at the Franklin Public Library on Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30 PM.

Franklin Library: Indoor Seed Starting - Jan 15

"At Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens, our mission is to inspire others to grow their own fresh produce. We deliver residential and community based training, consulting, and assistance in vegetable garden development. We are dedicated to the belief that most people should have the knowledge and opportunity to grow wholesome fruits and veggies in containers, raised beds, or in-ground gardens."

For more info about Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardening visit
http://www.blackstonevalleyveggiegardens.com/

Franklin Garden Club: “H” is for Daylilies

Adele Keohan, a certified master gardener, will present a program on “H” is for Daylilies at the Tuesday, November 6, 2018, meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. The meeting will be held at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, from 7 – 9 PM, beginning with an informal social at 6:30 pm. It is open to the public at no charge.

The presentation will provide information on different types of daylilies, such as “spider,” “double,” and “eyed” plants; how to select a daylily for form, bloom time and habit; how to care for and propagate these hardy perennial plants; and how to keep them blooming in the garden from late spring to Halloween.

Keohan, a daylily enthusiast who had a garden of 200 daylilies, is a regional officer in the American Hemerocallis Society (AHS), the national daylily society. A member of AHS since 2006, she was appointed an AHS garden judge in 2008 and became a garden judge instructor in 2013. She has presented garden judge workshops at national and regional AHS conventions, as well as in Québec. The votes of AHS garden judges determine which daylily hybrids earn the top AHS awards each year.

A past president of the New England Daylily Society, she is a member of several other daylily organizations and the editor of the award-winning regional daylily society publication, “Daylilies in the Great Northeast.”

Franklin Garden Club: “H” is for Daylilies

Franklin Garden Club Hosts Speaker on Hostas - Oct 2

Bob Trainor, owner of Garden Tech Horticultural Services of Walpole, MA, will speak on the “The Wonderful World of Hostas” at the Tuesday, October 2, meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. 

The meeting will be held at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM, beginning with an informal social at 6:30 PM. It is open to members of the public at no charge.

Trainor, who established his company 20 years ago, is a horticulturist, nurseryman, and landscape designer with 40 years of experience in the green industry. He will speak on how to select the best varieties of hostas and integrate them into the landscape. 

A MA Certified Horticulturist and MA Certified Landscape Professional, he has won numerous awards for landscape design, customer service, and community beautification projects. His passion is learning about the ever-expanding pallet of plant varieties available for use in landscapes and sharing that knowledge with both beginner and experienced gardeners, alike.

Franklin Garden Club Hosts Speaker on Hostas - Oct 2

Franklin Garden Club - Flower Bouquet Sale - Sep 21

The Franklin Garden Club will sell flower bouquet arrangements in vases on Friday, September 21, at the Franklin Farmer’s Market, which takes place at the Town Common from 12:00 – 6:00 PM. 

The colorful arrangements featuring beautiful summer flowers, such as zinnias and daisies, will be made by members with flowers from their gardens and the Town Common. Prices will range from $5.00 - $10.00, a significant savings over the retail cost for similar bouquets. 

The sale offers residents an opportunity to brighten their homes with a lovely arrangement or to purchase a cheerful gift for others at a low cost. Proceeds will benefit Club community activities.

Franklin Garden Club - Flower Bouquet Sale - Sep 21

Franklin Garden Club Offers Many Programs

The Franklin Garden Club will offer an array of educational programs for the 2018-2019 season. The first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, September 4 at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel Cahill Street, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. 

An informal social get-together will take place at from 6:30 – 7:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member of the Garden Club.

This year’s programming schedule is: September 4: Kick-off Meeting and Perennial Swap; October 2: Climate Reality, Climate Voices; November 6: “H” is for Daylilies; December 4: Holiday Auction; February 5: Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators; March 5: Hydroponic Gardening; April 2: Creating Spring Tulip Wreaths; May 7: Container Gardening: June 5 – Annual Meeting. The Club engages recognized gardening experts to present the programs.

Three field trips are planned, one to Heritage Gardens in Sandwich, MA in October, the second to the Boston Flower Show in March, and the third to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in late spring. 

Club community service activities include planting and maintenance of the Franklin Town Common gardens and the planters at the Franklin Library, sponsorship of an annual scholarship awarded to a high school graduate, distribution of pine tree seedlings in the elementary schools and special projects with other community organizations.

“The Garden Club, founded in 1987, offers members a wonderful opportunity to learn new information and tips from experts and fellow members related to many different aspects of gardening,” noted Janice Cederquist and Susan Childers, co-presidents. “We welcome anyone who is interested to attend the first meeting to learn more about the Club and planned activities.”

The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.

Franklin Garden Club Offers Many Programs