Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA
Community Gardens Greenhouse
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| Growing communities from the ground up! |
Located at the 220 Aiken Street, Lowell
Sponsored by the Lowell National Historical Park
Parking is available at this site.
Hours of operation: By appointment only at this time.
Sponsored by the Lowell National Historical Park
Parking is available at this site.
Hours of operation: By appointment only at this time.
In 2007, a plan was proposed to create a 125' by 6' signature perennial garden bed to surround the greenhouse. One third
of this garden receives full sun, one third is part-sun/part-shade, and the final third is part-shade/shade. The goal was to
create a place where citizens can come and enjoy the beauty of the garden and also learn about gardening projects in
Lowell.
The Signature Garden was re-defined to include the entire lot. This happened a lot sooner than anticipated. A sedum
garden has also been created. A full sun Flower Petal Garden is being created. Instead of the standard rectangular raised
bed that is encased in a wooden structure, the raised beds are formed in the shape of a flower petal. The center of the
flower is a butterfly garden; the raised bed is encircled by a stone wall with plantings that attract butterflies to feed or to lay
eggs. Each petal is owned by a community gardener. There are still petals for the taking, contact us.
The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, a group of Cambodians who suffer from PSTD, post traumatic stress
disorder, created a series of raised beds for vegetable gardens in front of the greenhouse. This is a City Gardens Project
sponsored by the Office of Refugee Settlement and the Parker Foundation. The vegetable garden evolved over time to
incorporate the planting of a berm---something very different for these gardeners.
Sheila joined the greenhouse in 2007. Her first garden was a raised bed vegetable garden. Sheila uses biodynamic culture
methods, by growing plants next to others which includes keeping incompatible plantings separate (i.e.) carrots do not like
dill. Plants are grown close encouraging roots to go deep and also forming a layer of shade over the soil, a naturally
occurring mulch helping the soil to retain moisture. Sheila harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, basil, thyme, swiss
chard, carrots, beets, scallions, hot peppers, lettuce and spinach. Organic practices are also incorporated.
As the growing season progressed, a shade garden started to evolve that extended from the back edge of the berm under
several full-grown trees. The garden contains hosta, sweet woodruff, astilbe and other shade loving plants.
On October 10, 2007, Motorola held its Global Service Day. Motorola employees volunteered their services to help us with
our fall gardening efforts. This helped us to get more done before frost in a shorter period of time. Thank you Motorola!
As donations started coming in, the 125' x 6' shady area along the side of the greenhouse became the drop-off area for
plant donations.
Jean Soucy from Mill City Fabricators offered to make and donate iron garden markers to identify gardens and plantings.
Garden maintenance committees are being formed now through the Keep Lowell Beautiful Beautification sub-committee in partnership with
the Community Gardens Greenhouse. Recruitment of Lowell and area residents is an ongoing effort. Volunteers are welcome anytime.
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM and are generally held at the greenhouse. During late fall and
winter months, meetings are held off-site. Access the Community Gardens Greenhouse Calendar to keep abreast of meeting times, locations,
schedule.
of this garden receives full sun, one third is part-sun/part-shade, and the final third is part-shade/shade. The goal was to
create a place where citizens can come and enjoy the beauty of the garden and also learn about gardening projects in
Lowell.
The Signature Garden was re-defined to include the entire lot. This happened a lot sooner than anticipated. A sedum
garden has also been created. A full sun Flower Petal Garden is being created. Instead of the standard rectangular raised
bed that is encased in a wooden structure, the raised beds are formed in the shape of a flower petal. The center of the
flower is a butterfly garden; the raised bed is encircled by a stone wall with plantings that attract butterflies to feed or to lay
eggs. Each petal is owned by a community gardener. There are still petals for the taking, contact us.
The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, a group of Cambodians who suffer from PSTD, post traumatic stress
disorder, created a series of raised beds for vegetable gardens in front of the greenhouse. This is a City Gardens Project
sponsored by the Office of Refugee Settlement and the Parker Foundation. The vegetable garden evolved over time to
incorporate the planting of a berm---something very different for these gardeners.
Sheila joined the greenhouse in 2007. Her first garden was a raised bed vegetable garden. Sheila uses biodynamic culture
methods, by growing plants next to others which includes keeping incompatible plantings separate (i.e.) carrots do not like
dill. Plants are grown close encouraging roots to go deep and also forming a layer of shade over the soil, a naturally
occurring mulch helping the soil to retain moisture. Sheila harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, basil, thyme, swiss
chard, carrots, beets, scallions, hot peppers, lettuce and spinach. Organic practices are also incorporated.
As the growing season progressed, a shade garden started to evolve that extended from the back edge of the berm under
several full-grown trees. The garden contains hosta, sweet woodruff, astilbe and other shade loving plants.
On October 10, 2007, Motorola held its Global Service Day. Motorola employees volunteered their services to help us with
our fall gardening efforts. This helped us to get more done before frost in a shorter period of time. Thank you Motorola!
As donations started coming in, the 125' x 6' shady area along the side of the greenhouse became the drop-off area for
plant donations.
Jean Soucy from Mill City Fabricators offered to make and donate iron garden markers to identify gardens and plantings.
Garden maintenance committees are being formed now through the Keep Lowell Beautiful Beautification sub-committee in partnership with
the Community Gardens Greenhouse. Recruitment of Lowell and area residents is an ongoing effort. Volunteers are welcome anytime.
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM and are generally held at the greenhouse. During late fall and
winter months, meetings are held off-site. Access the Community Gardens Greenhouse Calendar to keep abreast of meeting times, locations,
schedule.
| In 2005 there was a greenhouse |
| In 2006 Russian Sage was donated... |
| ...and planted in fall of 2006 starting the Signature Garden |
| 2007 Econo mulch donated creating a 125' x 6' sun garden |
| A closer view of what we now call the Holding Garden |
| 2007 donated perennials planted. View is from the front of the greenhouse |
| 2007 a view from the back of the greenhouse prior to planting donated plants. |
| 2007 the beginning of the flower petal garden |
| A volunteer creating the Butterfly Garden, the flower's center |
| Taking a break at the Butterfly Garden |
| The Butterfly Garden is planted with donations from Almos and from Perennial Partners |
| Sheila's garden early spring 2007 |
| 2007 Views of the berm under construction and being planted with vegetables and flowers |
| 2007 The shade perennial garden is created. Cardboard and newspapers are placed on the ground and soaked to promote decay. The paper and cardboard block the weeds and kill the grass. Econo mulch is placed on top to start the decaying process. Two to three weeks later holes will be dug and plants will be planted. |
| A view of the shade perennial garden in fall of 2007. |
| 2007 Traditional raised garden beds with their owners |
| Motorola employees edge the Flower Petal and Holding Gardens |
| A view of the Signature Garden, October 10, 2007 Motorola's Global Service Day. |
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Sheila is also building a flower petal garden and
is looking for perennial donations that grow in
full sun.
is looking for perennial donations that grow in
full sun.
| A raised bed around the flag pole is planted with annuals |
| Sheila's garden in summer 2007 |
| Sedum garden in summer of 2007 |
| Apple trees grow on the property. Fall 2007. |
The plan didn't quite work out as expected. Two thirds of the garden surrounding the
greenhouse, the full sun and part-sun/part-shade sections, were developed. Instead of a
Signature Garden, a Holding Garden was created meaning plants temporarily reside here.
The garden contains annual overstock generated from our greenhouse growing efforts, as
well as perennial donations which are not slotted for a particular city garden or that need to
be over-wintered. Perennials will most likely be moved to other gardens as projects are
defined.
greenhouse, the full sun and part-sun/part-shade sections, were developed. Instead of a
Signature Garden, a Holding Garden was created meaning plants temporarily reside here.
The garden contains annual overstock generated from our greenhouse growing efforts, as
well as perennial donations which are not slotted for a particular city garden or that need to
be over-wintered. Perennials will most likely be moved to other gardens as projects are
defined.
| 2007 a summer view from the front of the greenhouse. |
Another local citizen stopped by to donate plants and ended up staying to develop full
sun perennial garden. The garden is approximately 75' x 42' . The pictures on the side
show the beginning of a path into the garden; a tree stump is being incorporated into
the planting.
sun perennial garden. The garden is approximately 75' x 42' . The pictures on the side
show the beginning of a path into the garden; a tree stump is being incorporated into
the planting.
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