5-15-11 - Butterflies and Their Gardens

Date: May 15, 2011
Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
John Himmelman, noted naturalist, author, and co-founder of the CT Butterfly Association will present a 1-hr lecture entitled, "Butterflies and Their Gardens," as the guest speaker at the Killingworth Community Gardens April Event. Gardeners, please join us from 1:30 to 3:30PM for this most interesting and informative program. Older children with an interest in butterfly gardening may also enjoy this lecture. Tammy Eustis and Robin Matterfis will be present to share their personal experiences in the raising of praying mantis' for garden insect control, and in the tagging of migratory butterflies. Related items are available for sale. Refreshments will be served! Admission is FREE.
2-21-11 - Waiting For Spring

6-21-10 - Gardens Benefit from Eagle Scout Projects

Ryan Griffin, Kevin and Ed Gorman
Troop 18 Eagle Scout candidates Kevin Gorman and Chad Golembeski both completed their Eagle Scout projects at Parmelee Farm this month. Golembeski completed an informational kiosk for National Trails Day in June 5th and today, Kevin Gorman completed a bridge for the wetlands crossing between the two community garden fields. Gorman, 17, is the son of Joanne and Ed Gorman of Killingworth. He received funding for his project from the Killingworth Lions Club, United Illuminating and a mini-grant from Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth. He also thanks Tuxis Lumber for giving him discounts on materials. The 40x10 foot bridge will allow foot and tractor access to the back garden field. Gorman, who will be a senior at HK High School this fall, spent the last two years planning the project and getting the necessary okays from town committees.

Greg and Chad Golembeski
6-14-10 - Lions Club Tomato Plant Sale

Charlie Smith and Les Riblet prepare the plants
Also on display at the plant sale was a wonderful painting of the gardens and red barn by resident artist Sandy Smith. The painting will be raffled off at the Killingworth Congregational Church Fair in August. Sandy, a member of the Madison Art Society, gets together to paint outdoors at various locations in the area. The group spent a few hours painting at the property two years ago and were welcomed back again last week.
6-3-09 - Learn More, Grow More Food Talks
A free 3 part series of talks to be held at the Scranton Library Madison. Co-sponsored by the Bauer Park Community Garden and Killingworth Community GardensJune 25th, July 7th , July 30th - 6:30PM to 8:00PM
The talks are free but registration is required-
Please contact: Barbara Sabiston at sabistonbe@madisonct.org or Madison Beach and Recreation: (203) 245-5623
Given by: Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH, RD of the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System
June 25th 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Garden to Table: Food Safety Practices of Home Gardeners
Join us and learn about safe food handling practices during growing, harvesting and storage and preparation of fresh produce.
July 7th 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Preserving the Harvest-Freezing
To get answers to your general questions about home food preservation and learn how to freeze fresh fruits and vegetables, join us for this two-part presentation:
- Choosing the best way to preserve fruits and vegetables at home
- Freezing fruits and vegetables
Canning Your Harvest
This week, Diane will share with us:
- An overview and demonstration of various home canning techniques, including water bath, and pressure canners.
- Safe methods for canning vegetables
- Recommended methods for making jams
- How to use a pressure canner without fear of explosion
Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH, RD of the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is a food safety educator who has been teaching farmers, processors, retailers, foodservice workers and consumers about food safety and safe food handling for more than 15 years.
6-7-09 - Our First Meet and Greet of the Season

3-30-09 - Community Angels Help Gardens Grow
It must be lucky soil. The Killingworth Community Gardens would not have been able to harvest a single vegetable last year had it not been for the contributions of community volunteers. Time, labor, equipment were generously offered to help create 


Our first delivery to Clinton Food Pantry. Photo courtesy J. Wilcox

Killingworth First Selectman Richard Cabral accepts the $10,000 check from State Representative Brian O'Connor.
“The resources provided by this state grant will continue to add to this great project and I am excited to begin to see it all put to use,” Rep. O’Connor said. “The Killingworth Community Gardens project is truly visionary and fits in perfectly with the town’s heritage.” O’Connor continued, “The garden symbolizes the rebirth of the property and will serve as the cornerstone to its future revitalization. Peg Scofield, First Selectman Cabral, Hilary Kumnick and the Land Use Committee should be applauded for seeing the project thru.”
The town-owned property is 133 acres of passive recreation land purchased by the town in 2000. The gardens are located on a homestead that most recently was used as a turkey farm and abuts the Cockaponset State Forest.
Residents will be able to use the garden for a variety of activities such as food production, environmental education and various gatherings.
Peg Scofield said, “I am thrilled that Rep. O'Connor was able to secure the significant startup funding. His support of this project and his involvement with other projects and events in town is greatly appreciated.”
Killingworth First Selectman Richard Cabral said, “When a private citizen, Peg Scofield, comes forth to create and implement a project that is worthwhile for the citizens of Killingworth and is able to work successfully with the town’s Land Use Committee, it brings to the foreground the fact that when we all work together, everyone wins.”
Hilary Kumnick, Chairman of the Land Use Committee, commented, “The gardens are a wonderful addition to the fabric of Killingworth thanks to Peg Scofield’s vision and extensive planning. Our committee has been charged by the Board of Selectmen to see that the areas and structures surrounding the plots are safe and secure. The Board of Selectmen, Park and Recreation and Land Use Committee anticipate future uses of the old farm site could include hiking, horse and dog trails, youth farm activities, and other passive recreation uses. The volunteer-driven gardens are an ideal ‘breath of fresh air’ for this attractive town property and our committee is unanimous in our support.” Youth & Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth awarded its second round of mini-grants recently to community members who proposed projects aimed at building developmental assets in our communities' youth. These assets, according to YFS are "positive experiences, opportunities and personal qualities that all youth need to be responsible, successful, and caring". The seven mini-grants were made possible by a Community Impact Grant from the Middlesex United Way.

The research shows that the more assets young people have, the less likely they are to engage in high-risk behaviors. Forty developmental assets were defined and the more assigned, the healthier the kids. One example shows this clearly: students in grades 7-12 who answered that they had gotten drunk once or more in the last two weeks decreased from 36%, with 0-10 assets assigned, to 0%, with 31-40 assets. Assets promote academic success, divert youth from risky behaviors and increase civic engagement. They also give young people the strengths they need to make positive choices in life.
3-31-2008 Community Gardens "Open for Growing"
The Killingworth Community Gardens project, first proposed early last summer, will start accepting plot registrations on April 1. The Gardens are located on the Bosco property on Route 81. Thanks to the overwhelming support of volunteers, Town committees and Town and State officials the small estate on the 133-acre property is coming back to life. The 24-20ft x 20ft garden plots are marked and ready to welcome residents who are looking for a place to come together for the purpose of food production, environmental education and multi-generational gatherings. Individuals and groups at all levels of gardening expertise are welcome. The registration fee for each plot is $20. Registrations will be accepted in the Town Clerk's office or you may download the forms from the project's website and send them in by mail. Plots will be assigned on a first come basis.

Peter Venuti clears the field last fall.
The Gardens received significant startup funding from the State Office of Policy and Management thanks to the support of Rep. Brian O'Connor. The funding will allow for the purchase of a solar powered water pump, deer fencing and soil improvements. The Gardens were also awarded a Youth and Family Service of Haddam-Killingworth mini-grant that will be used to purchase garden tools and plants. The project would not be possible without the advice and efforts of volunteers. Many residents have pledged to help with super-volunteers Peter Venuti, Eric Auer and Bill Silas generously leading the way.
Project organizer, Peg Scofield, a self-professed novice gardener, said the "seeds" of the project were planted back in 2004 when the planned Bosco Recreation Complex included space for a community garden. "I thought a community garden would be a wonderful use of land that was once a thriving farm and homestead." Though the recreation plan failed, Scofield kept the garden idea in mind. "People started referring to this property for what it couldn't be, instead of what it could. I thought if we started small and simple and residents saw the property for its peaceful and historic beauty, it might spark a change in attitude." Former First Selectman Marty Klein okayed the idea and offered his advice on the planning and the Town crew's time to clean up the field and around the house and out-buildings. Scofield said, "Rep. O'Connor, the Town Hall staff, Land Use and other committees have been so helpful in moving the project along. I am thrilled with the support and interest the project has received so far and thankful for all the great advice and especially the efforts of Rep. O'Connor, Peter, Eric, Bill and the Land Use Committee members. There is still a lot to do, but we are well on the way."
LUC Chairman Hilary Kumnick said, "The Community Gardens are a wonderful addition to the fabric of Killingworth thanks to Peg Scofield's vision and extensive planning. LUC has been charged by the Board of Selectmen to see that the areas/structures surrounding the plots are safe and secure. BOS, P&R & LUC anticipate future uses of the old farm site could include hiking, horse and dog trails, youth farm activities, and other passive recreation uses. The volunteer-driven, kwgardens are an ideal "breath of fresh air" for this attractive town property and LUC is unanimous in our support!"