Questions, contact:
Stephen Clayton
Project Lead
Our Garden
The WFP is starting it’s own garden this Spring to expand its mission of helping surrounding communities with food security. The Westport Food Pantry Garden (WFPG for short) is a community garden in the sense that everything grown will be distributed by the pantry to the surrounding communities served. We have entered into an agreement with The Trustees, managers of the Westport Town Farm, to lease a plot of land previously used as a community garden in the 2010’s. Historically the Town Farm, for over one hundred years, was Westport’s “poor farm” and it closed in 1954. We’re excited by this new adventure with new partners and of course there is a lot to do: soil and water tests, soil amendments, plot preparation, weed control, deer fencing, installing water irrigation, selecting suitable crops, seed and transplant planting, oh, and harvesting. The Garden will employ regenerative farming practices to protect soil life and the surrounding environment.
It wouldn't be a far stretch to refer to the WFPG as a victory garden. Folks of a certain age will recognize the phrase. In 1944 victory gardens supplied 40% of the United State’s fresh vegetables. Just about everybody grew food.
The Plan
We are planning to break ground this Spring. Plans are in motion for a final discing, tilling and bed layout with the help of the Town Farm and the Neighborhood Farm. We would like to start our tomatoes and peppers early so if anyone has greenhouse space for a couple of 1020 trays that would be very helpful. Volunteer help will be needed for the usual garden activities plus putting up deer fencing, an absolute must.
Crop Selection
Tool We Can Use
Harvest Tubs
Garden Rakes
Wheel Barrows
Garden Hoes
Cultivators
Long Handle Shovels
Garden Forks
Hand Trowels
Tomato Stakes
Wish List
Soil amendment - $500
Deer fencing - $1400
Drip irrigation - $400
Weed Barrier - $360
Tool Shed, 10’x8’ - $1600
Row cover - $30
Harvest Knives (6) - $42
Seeds
Rows are in alphabetical order not necessarily planting order.
Please consider getting involved and make the WFPG your community garden! You may have garden tools that you no longer use you could donate. You may be able to help us financially for a part or whole of the wish list items. Below are the items we need most help with. For online donations you can click on write us a comment and state how you would like your donation used.