The Demonstration Organic Garden at Northwest Park is a partnership between the Park and the UConn Master Gardeners network. Originally designated a “Signature Project” under both the Hartford and Tolland County offices, the garden was restored to active cultivation in 2017 and has been managed continuously since then by a team of both established Master Gardeners and a “fresh” crew of the current year’s Master Gardener interns. Funding support comes from the Friends of Northwest Park as well as from occasional grants from the CT Master Gardeners Association (CMGA), supplemented by donations (generally of tools and seedlings!) from the gardeners themselves.

Each year we grow a wide variety of crops to demonstrate not only good “organic” practices but also to provide educational themes around which to both organize the garden beds and educate the public. In recent years, our intention has been to address the ongoing stresses of food insecurity, human health and climate change.

The Organic Garden itself is approximately 1/8 acre, with 14 raised beds, some berry/bramble patches, outer growing areas for such things as fruit and nut trees, a three-bin compost set-up, storage sheds and wildflower borders. It is fenced in but open to the public at any time to wander through and examine both the plants and our many information signs that provide “passive” education. The Park itself owns the garden and most of the structures; each year the staff and some of their volunteers assist with repairs and general maintenance. Then the gardening work is largely accomplished by the team of Master Gardeners and interns, with some help from community volunteers.

We are fortunate to have local partners such as the local chapter of the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN), the CT Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), CMGA and NOFA Mass. We use the resources of these groups on an informal basis as well as more formally for some of our public education events,

Whenever you are in the park for recreation, please check out the organic garden. It is located down the dirt road that runs beside the animal barn, beyond the pastures on the left across from the community garden plots. The public is always welcome to enter and stroll around the beds. If you would like to keep informed about our monthly (in season) public gatherings, please send your contact information to Nancy Bowden, nrbowden@comcast.net.

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