Gardener and Mattapoisett resident Bob Nichols says he’s willing to bet that 99% of the people who live in town don’t even know about the existence of a community garden at the corner of Prospect Road and Pine Island Road. Nonetheless, it has been there for ten years and there is still plenty of room for growth – both of the community kind and of the horticultural kind.
There has been some talk about starting up a community garden in Mattapoisett, says Nichols, but what many don’t know is that one has already taken root in town and so far nine residents have taken advantage of the fertile ground offered to them by landowner Florence Martocci.
“Most people in town haven’t any clue that we even have a community garden,” said Nichols, a member of the garden for five years now and one of the caretakers and organizers.
On Monday, May 16, Nichols tended to his flourishing raspberry patch on one of his two contiguous garden plots he’s been growing on for some time now. The bright sun intensified the green of the leaves that danced in the wind on that breezy morning as he tightened the ties that held the tall branches to running wire, keeping them straight.
Within the corner lot surrounded by an old stone wall lies a patchwork of garden plots, some already started for the season and some waiting for a green thumb or two to break ground and pull up the myriad weeds taking advantage of the rich nutrients that saturate the soil at the site.
“It’s nice, fertile soil, with very few rocks. Things grow pretty well,” said Nichols. “This little area is protected. It’s almost like a microclimate because there’s virtually no wind and full sun all day.”
Most people grow vegetables in the community garden, but some of them plant sunflowers and Nichols pointed out a daffodil patch that someone planted years ago.
Nichols boasted that his raspberry patch yielded 30 quarts of berries last year, and just a single one of his tomato plants produced some 55 tomatoes.
“I harvested almost 35 pounds off of one plant,” said Nichols. “That’s because the soil is so good.”
Nichols said the garden is an organic garden and no pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals of any kind are allowed. This is not only because organic gardening is healthier, said Nichols, but also to protect the bees that one gardener raises in the back of the garden in beehives that pollinate the plants.
“I enjoy being up here,” Nichols said. He grows about 80% of his produce consumption here in his three garden plots. “My wife says, if she ever sees me taking out another plot over here, you’ll find my body buried in one of them.”
Nichols, who is retired now, is currently pursuing a master gardener status through an educational program at Bristol Community College. If you are a novice gardener, or someone who has always wanted to begin gardening, then those at the community garden would be happy to help you get established.
“There’s no one here that wouldn’t want to answer any questions and help out,” Nichols said.
Those interested in hearing more about the available plots over at the Community Garden can contact Bob Nichols via email at cbcrescentbch@comcast.net.
By Jean Perry
