BANGOR — The Hammond Street Senior Center’s rooftop garden has been selected to be one of several University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer projects this season. UMaine MGVs are part of a national network of volunteers trained to educate other home and community gardeners on research-based sustainable gardening practices. MGVs also use their training to improve access to healthy food options through the Maine Harvest for Hunger program. The rooftop garden will receive support from MGVs through assistance
with garden planning, soil preparation, planting, establishment of space-saving structures, harvesting and public education.
The unique urban garden, located on the second floor roof of the senior center, overlooks the busy downtown intersection of Hammond, Central and Main streets. Patrons enjoying a sandwich at one of Giacomo’s outdoor tables can look up and see some of the railing boxes soon to be filled with flowers and herbs. The garden is starting its fifth year with 17 raised beds (most are 4 feet by 8 feet by 1 inch deep). Twelve of the railing boxes are used to grow herbs and flowers while more than 50 containers and buckets supplement the growing space of the raised beds. An automated irrigation system set on a timer meets the demanding watering needs of the garden. Vegetables, herbs and flowers are sold at a harvest table in the lobby of the Senior Center to society members and the general public to raise funds for the Senior Center.
Senior Center officials said the rooftop garden demonstrates that productive gardening can be achieved in an urban setting and provides a space for people to share the joy of gardening with friends. Through generous donations of plants, seeds and soils from several greenhouses and garden centers, the garden successfully met its goal and will provide healthy local produce for seniors at reasonable prices.
To learn more about the garden or to take a tour, call the Senior Center at 262-5532.