Community Corner

Community Garden Approved in Haddon Twp.

The garden will be at the former Champion School on Collings Avenue.

The township Board of Commissioners have approved a plan to establish a community garden.

A local group pitched the plan over several meetings and commissioners approved it last week.

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for later this month at the historic Champion School house on Collings Avenue, where the garden will be located.

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"There are 19 planned plots for gardeners and each plot will be composed of raised beds provided by the township including compost and top soil," said Gwen Baile, an organizer of the community garden group.

The gardeners asked commissioners for $1,550 of the estimated $4,200 cost for materials needed to start the garden. The remainder of the costs are expected to be paid by grants, including $2,000 from Sustainable New Jersey that is already in hand, and dues from gardeners.

Find out what's happening in Haddonfield-Haddon Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Additional township costs will include installing water service at the site and paying for water for the first two years. The gardening group projects that it will be self sustainable by its third year.

Baile said all 19 of the 96-square-foot plots have been snapped up by willing vegetable gardeners and there's now a waiting list. Dues are $35 the first year and $25 in subsequent years for returning gardeners.

"The garden will be all organic," Baile said. "It is anticipated that many tasty, healthy vegetables will be eaten around Haddon Township next summer."

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