The newly initiated Roselle Park Community Garden, located at 133 Valley Road, started its in-person sign-up period last Sunday and will continue today and the following two Saturdays from noon till 2 in the afternoon.
With a limit of 30 plots, there are still parcels available at a $20 annual membership fee. Although the official municipal website states that the fee is per family, it appears that the $20 is per plot.
The community garden was initially presented to the governing body as early as June of 2013 by resident Alex Haluszczak at municipal budget workshops. He provided the governing body at that time information on how other communities made use of vacant land and even recommended 133 Valley Road as the location. It did not take hold until March of this year when it was formally presented by Erin Donnelly, a relative of Roselle Park Borough Clerk Doreen Cali, at the March 19th Mayor & Council meeting.
The form of gardening proposed is straw bale gardening. According to Mrs. Donnelly, it is inexpensive and space-efficient as each plot will consist of five bales. As the bales decompose, they act as the nutrient base for growing vegetables.
In addition to in-person sign-ups, residents can also contact the municipality at rpcommunitygarden[@]rosellepark.net.
Reservations are at a first-come, first-serve basis.
The in-person reservation dates are listed below:
| DATE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2015 | |||
| April 4, 2015 | |||
| April 11, 2015 | |||
| April 18, 2015 |