Interested in Community Gardening in Allston?

The Charles River Community Garden, CRCG, was established in 1979/80 by Julie Hensler, who could not find an available plot in the Herter Garden. She contacted the Dept of Food and Agriculture community gardening program and was told there was land further upstream. She rounded up 20 friends and they staked out a 60’ x 40’ garden and turned the soil. It was then divided into 10’ x 20’ plots. Adjacent to the CRCG was the Boston Food Coop Small Victory garden. In 1985-86 Julie and her husband took a year off to travel around the world, giving the work of Garden Coordinator to two gardeners who failed to do the job. The garden appeared abandoned and the Dept of Agriculture threatened to terminate the lease. “Julie called all of the garden members from 1984: many had moved, some had just given up. The list of active gardeners was only about half a dozen people. Everywhere Jule went she tried to convince people to join the garden. Those who joined took 2, 3 or even 4 plots to keep the garden running. The effort was successful, and the garden got approval from the Dept of Agriculture to continue.” In 1996 the two gardens merged under Sue Wymelenberg, who secured funds for the fence and formed the Garden Council. Sue was succeeded by Peter Burns.