Community market garden proposal in the works

A proposal to create a community market garden was presented to the Board of Commissioners during the August Board of Supervisors meeting. Emmitsburg resident Jack Deatherage proposed creating a community market garden located at Scott Road Farm with the intent to give interested families the opportunity to learn gardening and marketing, mainly through their own efforts.

Within the proposal, a full-sun plot of workable land 25ft x 25ft or ideally, 100ft x 100ft was recommended. The proposal also asked for access to a reliable water source, an area nearby for composting, a place to secure tools and materials, an indoor meeting area with refrigerator, access to restroom facilities, two gas powered walk behind rototillers, hand tools, self-propelled walk-behind lawnmower, and a four-foot grow light.

In response to the proposal at the Scott Road Farm location, Town Manager Cathy Willets informed Commissioners that due to several factors, including a lack of reasonable access to water, no electric access, the inhabitable nature of the building on site, and lack of vehicular access to the proposed garden location, the Board may need to consider looking into other locations if this is a proposal they wish to consider.

Commissioners seemed to be on board with the idea of having a community garden of this nature available to Emmitsburg residents, but agreed with Willets that the proposed location would not be suitable. In order to use this location, many costly renovations would need to take place, at the town’s expense. Due to potential liability issues, the community garden would also need to be placed on town property. Commissioner Elizabeth Buckman mentioned placing it on the property adjacent to the location of the Farmers’ Market, noting that it could be a perfect place to grow and then market products. Staff will look into this location as well as other potential locations that may be suitable to carry out this idea. It may be reviewed at a future meeting.

Emmitsburg volunteer clean-up day continues to be a success

Hello Emmitsburg residents, we need your help! Please join us for the Third Emmitsburg Volunteer Community Clean-Up Day, Saturday September 8th from 9 a.m. - noon. We are planning to pick up and dispose of loose trash and litter from the parks, roads, and alleys in the downtown area. We will meet at Memorial Park, which is located just behind the Post Office at 8:15 a.m. for a light breakfast and organize into teams; plastic bags, gloves, and garbage pokers will be provided. We will be cleaning east of Seton Avenue on both the north and south sides of Main Street working our way towards the Silo Hill/Main Street intersection where the Jubilee shopping center is located.

We had great first and second clean-up days, thanks to all the volunteers who picked up well over 100 pounds of trash and litter, which has since been disposed of properly. This is simple hands-on work that needs to be done to help keep Emmitsburg a beautiful community. We deeply appreciate everyone's involvement in helping us clean up our Town. If you have a passion for your community and a little extra time on September 8th, please join us for our Third Emmitsburg Volunteer Community Clean-Up Day. Hope to see you there!