Celebrating A Second Year In The Victory Garden

By Kendra Bobowick

A coolness in the air and touch of color on falling leaves set the scene to celebrate this year’s Victory Garden bounty. The second Harvest Festival saw the community garden’s volunteers gather on the second day of autumn for music and refreshments. The garden’s yield supports Newtown’s food pantries and Nunnawauk Meadows.

Slipping a trowel into a storage bin near the garden’s gates in Fairfield Hills, Mackenzie Hughes glanced toward the Trinity Trowelers row that she had helped maintain this season. Seated at a picnic bench were Margaret and David Clark, enjoying desert and laughing about their row’s name: Two Old Crows.

Joining the event was Pamela Wilson, carrying potted fern, aloe, and Swedish ivy that she intended to give away. “I hope to get a row for next year,” she said. First Selectman Pat Llodra, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold, and the Parks and Recreation Commission’s newest member, Richard Boritz, spoke quietly while the Impromptu Trio played.

Garden Founder Harvey Pessin in past weeks had said this year’s harvest of fresh-grown produce was successful. He also noted that this year’s gardening groups were “more diverse.” He saw a variety of student and civic groups participating this year. “The [garden’s] reach is a little broader this year.”

Next month, the victory garden coordinators are hosting a lecture on organic vegetable gardening throughout the winter on the first weekend in October at the C.H. Booth Library conference room from 2 to 4 pm. This event is also open to the general public. A $5 donation is requested. Contact Mr Pessin at harve9@yahoo.com for details. Learn more about the garden at FoodPantryGarden.org.