The previous days of rain, sleet, and snow left the ground wet and squishy with puddles of mud and water, so on a cold Saturday morning there had been some debate among the gardeners of the Harvard Community Garden whether to proceed with plans to replace the fence the next day. Counting on the changeability of weather and their fortitude in the face of less-than-ideal conditions, the members who had opinions on the matter decided to go ahead with their plans to meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday to do the work. It turned out to be a fine spring day with the sun shining, the air warming, and birds chirping. Eighteen gardeners, some with family members for support, showed up right on time at the Littleton Road site with wire cutters and sturdy gloves.
It sounded like a daunting task, taking down the sagging or fallen chicken wire and putting up a new hardware cloth fence around the approximately 8,400 square feet under cultivation. Spread out around the perimeter, people tugged and pulled, snipped and yanked, threw down the old rusted chicken wire, held up the new hardware cloth against poles, and tied it up with plastic or aluminum ties, working in pairs when needed. A latecomer was given the job of compacting the old discarded chicken wire into flat manageable packs. A new fence was up in about 90 minutes.
At ground level, the hardware cloth was folded into a right angle to deter digging animals and at the top it was curled outward so that climbing animals would fall off. An electric wire a few feet from the fence was installed to discourage the deer from jumping over. Nothing deters the turkeys from flying in occasionally.
The 22 plots in the garden are cultivated by 26 gardeners ranging in age from 80 years old to just out of college; from gardening experts to first-timers; from newcomers to longtime residents. Seedlings and perennials get passed around. Just about every plot has chives, probably from the same parent plant. Gardening advice is always available.
Questions about the Harvard Community Garden can be directed to Mary Keefe at mary.keefe@charter.net or 508-254-7112
