Page 14 - April 2021 Issue.indd

Denton Community Since its inception, the many 4x6 foot community spotlight, a public place
areas have created a space in historic to show diff erent plantings. Something
Gardens Blooms downtown where residents, school beautiful in the middle of town.”
Come Springtime groups, clubs and community groups The volunteers consist of Master
could grow edible plants through the
Gardeners, Master Naturalists and a
learning of garden ecology through
By JOHN P. EVANS III horticulturist who teach others the fi ner
seasonal planting,
need-to-knows necessary to improve
Planting the seeds for a better tomorrow.
“Main Street has worked with the town their gardening schools. Clemens said
That was and still is the mission
to oversee the garden and pathway that Adam Hollis of the Caroline County
statement for the town of Denton’s
goes from the municipal parking lot Public Schools has also been a great
community garden located near the
to the community gardens,” said Main help keeping the community garden in
municipal parking lot at the entrance
Street Manager Audrey Clemens. “Th e repair. She said a group from Caroline
to the town’s Arts and Entertainment
program was started with a grant from Technology and Career also get together
District.
the Denton Development Corporation on Thursdays for work days. “I couldn’t

Since 2009, the garden has served as a and with the help of the arts council do it without people like that helping us
place where town residents, churches director at the time, Marina Dowdall.” out,’’ said Clemens.
and organizations can maintain their
“The intention was to beautify the area Clemens said the vegetables produced

own 4 by 6-foot patch of land to grow
and to provide a learning place that from the garden are often given to
vegetables and plants. These little
would teach people how to be gardeners. churches and homeless shelters to help
gardens come together to not only

I am not an expert gardener myself, feed those in need. The garden is also
serve to preserve a greenspace for the
but we have several volunteers who are meant as a place to sit and enjoy the
town, but also as a learning center for
master gardeners and are helping others weather and the surroundings. A bench
those wishing to learn hands-on about
to learn what to do,” added Clemens. was donated which looks out upon the
planting, maintaining and disbursing
many plots, and a platform which can be
the food and fl ora grown there. And in From the beginning, the land set aside
used to hold concerts or other events. In
doing so, the community garden also for the gardens was envisioned as a
the past, the garden has hosted lunch
brings together neighbors helping to “community spotlight, a public place to
hour lectures and guest speakers.
make their town more beautiful. Th ey show diff erent plantings.”
also learn what is necessary to sustain a “The gardens are here for everyone to

The garden was also made possible
productive garden. enjoy, though some persons have rented
by funding from the Caroline Human
space for their own gardens,” Clemens
“The community gardens are a great way Services Council and the Women’s

said. “We ask that people enjoy it, but
for residents who don’t have a garden of Club of Denton, as well as the DDDC,
respect it.”
their own to have a place to grow plants and is maintained by volunteers and
and vegetables,” said town manager organizations who purchase plots in the Rainwater collection goes to cisterns,
Don Mulrine, who helped secure the garden, then cultivate them. and are used to gather rain overflow
community development grants that from nearby buildings and then
“The intention was at many levels,” said

enabled the town to clear the area for the distribute the water into the garden to
Clemens. “It was intended to beautify
gardens. “It’s been a successful program provide irrigation to help the plants and
that area of town that borders on the
from the start. Several residences of the vegetables grow.
arts district and also provide a learning
town have become involved in this way.”
experience, a teaching garden and

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