The Mashpee Community Garden is located at 400 Main Street, across from Lake Avenue — on the edge of the historic Hotel Attaquin site. It is a highly active community garden with 18 beds that are 8′ x 12′ in size, and 2 raised beds that are 4′ x 8′ to accommodate people with disabilities.
The Mashpee Community Garden was first organized in the mid-2000s under town auspices. Over the years, it had varying success attracting gardeners, and it experienced some maintenance and management issues. After the garden had been abandoned for several years, the Mashpee Environmental Coalition (MEC) took up the cause in 2018 and board members met with town officials to discuss how the community garden might best be revitalized and assured success. After discussion of several ideas, the Town Manager suggested to MEC representatives that a Mashpee Community Garden Advisory Committee (MCGAC) be established by the Board of Selectmen, comprised of seven committee members to be selected from an applicant pool of Mashpee residents. Several MEC board members were among those first appointed to MCGAC.
In the fall of 2018, MCGAC members submitted a proposal for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding of a Community Garden Reconstruction Plan to the Town of Mashpee’s Community Preservation Committee. A key element of the proposal included a MEC-funded design plan with construction specifications.
The project was approved for inclusion in the May 2019 Town Warrant that was considered and passed at the May 2019 Town Meeting. The old garden was demolished, and construction began in early spring 2020 on the new garden, with larger beds, improved soil, and tall garden fencing. The plan also included fruit and herb gardens, and a native plant display outside of the fence.
The first full season of gardening in the newly reconfigured Mashpee Community Garden commenced in May 2020. The community garden became fully occupied right away and a season waiting list was created. The same is expected for the 2021 gardening season and beyond.
Additional information as well as plot applications are available via the MCGAC website. Applications for each gardening season are posted by mid-January for Mashpee residents to download at https://www.mashpeema.gov/mashpee-community-garden-advisory-committee.
