The Verona Community Garden is expanding this year and it is now accepting applications from summer 2024 gardeners.
The garden, which had an initial group of 40 full, shared and elevated trough beds, has added 40 more beds for this season. It is located behind the main municipal parking lot by H.B. Whitehorne Middle School. A full bed, which is 4 feet by 8 feet, is $60 for the season, payable if your application is chosen. A half bed is $30 for a half. An elevated trough is also $60.
There can be only one bed per household, and you must be a Verona resident. You’ve got to submit your application by Saturday, March 23, and bed winners will be chosen on March 27. You can fill out the application form here. The garden should open for preparation and planting in mid-April.
The garden is surrounded by tall fencing to keep deer out. No pesticides or harsh chemicals may be used in it, and gardeners must weed their plot and make sure plants don’t spread beyond their beds. All gardeners must also help with overall watering and maintenance.
Last summer, HBW students built a Little Free Library for the garden to hold books for children on pollinators and gardening. If you have a book to donate, simply drop it in the library box, which is next to the garden sign by the municipal parking lot. One of the garden’s beds is reserved as a teaching garden for HBW students.
The Community Garden was created by the township and volunteers from Sustainable Verona and the Verona Environmental Commission, with backing from Sustainable Jersey, the PSEG Foundation, the Landsberger Foundation, the Board of Education, the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona and the Verona Education Association.
