“2,000 tulips. Pick a bouquet,” reads the sign on Route 32A. Another sign, painted with bright butterflies and flowers, says: “Welcome! Saugerties Organic Gardens, a nonprofit community agricultural organization.”
Mali Peterbridge and Frank Clark had been driving past the signs twice a day since moving from Saugerties to Palenville. Intrigued, like many of the garden’s current participants, they finally pulled in to learn more.
Mark Sanborn, 79, the founder of the nonprofit community garden and the landowner, was there to greet them. Sanborn, an Ulster County resident since age 12, and his wife live on 1 acre of the property and have dedicated 11.5 additional acres to community use.
The site includes rows of blooming tulips available for picking by donation, 46 raised garden beds rented to community members for $50 a year, an extensive pollinator garden and an apiary that offer homes to butterflies, bees, and other insects that support biodiversity and ecosystem health.
There are thousands of registered and informal community growing spaces across New York state, in both rural and urban areas. Private and vacant land has been transformed into community gardens to fight food insecurity, increase property values, build community, improve public health, and address environmental concerns, from natural habitat decline to stormwater runoff. The average community garden plot can produce about 200 pounds of food per year, while a single 11-square-foot garden can produce 20.4 servings of fresh produce.
Sanborn told his wife and daughter that when he retired, he wanted to grow food.
“Everyone cringed at the idea of taking down trees, but when I talked about growing things for pantries and promised to bring in bluebirds and grow strawberries, my wife agreed,” he said.
Further encouraged by a U.S. Department of Agriculture farming initiative, Sanborn cleared the land in 2013, divided it into garden plots, and began realizing his dream.
“We have 30 bluebird houses, all of our community garden plots have been rented, we harvested 50 pounds of honey last year and only two of our 12 volunteers had any experience. Every day I meet new people here, it just makes my day,” he said.
While tulips and dahlias draw newcomers, Sanborn said the sense of community among gardeners has grown, too. People leave surplus plants by the communal sink for anyone to take. Tools and equipment are shared. Gardeners offer their skills, from electrical engineering to carpentry and beekeeping.
“We were part of a community garden in Philadelphia and it was a huge part of our life. We love people coming together and we’re looking forward to organic farming and homesteading at our new home,” Peterbridge said.
Soon to receive their first package of bees, Peterbridge and Clark were thrilled that their first visit to Saugerties Organic Gardens coincided with Deb Spielman, a beekeeper who happened to be on site and offered to mentor them.
Spielman, a retired construction manager and interior designer whose last major project involved building a greenhouse for Wellesley College, recently sold her Boston home to try out life in the Hudson Valley.
“Mark welcomed me and all of my bees here, and now I’m meeting great people too,” Spielman said.
She didn’t want to build a new electric fence for her hives, a necessity to keep bears away, and the community garden already had one, she said.
“I love the spirit here and will probably give the honey to the garden to raise money for the operation,” Spielman said.
For 50 years, Sanborn ran a family dry-cleaning business in Kingston that he took over from his mother. He said putting his land to good use has brought him much more joy and far less stress.
“My real dream is to make sure it continues well after me,” Sanborn said.
His vision includes building a commercial greenhouse and residences for property and greenhouse managers.
“I know there’s a need for this kind of housing. I’ve even received calls from agricultural students. I’d love to be able to help give a head start to someone working towards a future in agriculture, helping them to create a sustainable business that’s good for the community and the environment,” he said.
The grounds will soon be home to 40 to 50 chickens, which Sanborn said he looks forward to raising through the summer and selling in the fall. All proceeds go back into the project, he said.
There is also a wood chip and firewood operation on site. The community garden has 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and officially pays Sanborn $1 a year in rent.
Saugerties Organic Gardens is at 64 Route 32A. Sanborn recommends stopping by in person. More information is available on their website.
Chana Widawski is a contributing reporter. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.