A Garden for the Town

Salisbury is a town that values its natural surroundings, and a connection to the earth. An outgrowth of that commitment was the inauguration, in 2013, of the Hewat Community Garden, where residents who don’t have the space for vegetable or flower gardens at their homes can have a place to grow seasonal plantings annually.

Besides space, there can be obstacles to making a secure fenced-in area at one’s property. And there is something to be said for communal gardening — that is, sharing with others the joys and challenges of the way things grow year to year. Every year is a little different.

The summer of 2022 was defined by a severe lack of precipitation, which led to drought conditions. It’s hard enough to coax vegetable plants to thrive and produce in a normal year, but drought makes that all the more difficult. At least there was an abundance of full sun. And several inches of rain finally came at the beginning of September.

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley was at the garden, which is off Salmon Kill Road on the Housatonic Child Care and Salisbury Family Services property, in early September (before the rain) and took the time to speak with this reporter. She was doing some watering, and noted how tough the drought had made it for all the gardeners this summer.

Yet the evidence was that the gardeners had given their individual plots enough attention so that flowers and vegetables had a chance to grow. The sense of pride in each section was evident, with the designs clearly reflecting each gardener’s passion. Sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias and more conjured all the colors of late summer, along with tomatoes, peppers, kale and even corn, just to mention a portion of the harvest.

Ten years of the Community Garden has meant constant improvements to the area, including a gazebo, a tall fence that is stronger than a home gardener would normally be able to have, easy access to watering, a shed, a mower and ongoing attention to soil quality.

The garden was designed by Lakeville landscape architect (and Lakeville Journal columnist) Mac Gordon, who has kept a plot there himself most years. It is administrated by Salisbury Family Services, whose Director of Social Services Patrice McGrath said in a recent interview that they had hoped from the beginning to get all kinds of people working together there, and that has happened.

The excess produce goes to the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville, she said, so nothing goes to waste. “And, the garden is on the Pollinator Path, thanks to Helen Baldwin planting two pollinator patches.”

The cost to join for a full season is $30 for a single plot and $50 for a double. “But if someone can’t afford the fee, that should not be an obstacle to anyone. We work with those who need help, and all should know they can still participate,” McGrath said.

Anyone who would like to take part in the Hewat Community Garden next summer should contact McGrath around January of 2023 to make a reservation. She is at Salisbury Family Services, 860-435- 5187, or pmcgrath@salisburyct.us, or go to the website at www.salisburyfamilyservices.org.

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko

Community Garden organizer Deb Brinley Buckley, at left in photo, was at the garden with her longtime friend, Jane Cioffi, who lives in North Carolina but grew up with Brinley Buckley in Connecticut, and was helping pick and water on Saturday, Sept. 3. Photo by Janet Manko
Related Articles Around the Web

Latest News

Fallen tree cancels jubilee

The roof of the Grove was damaged by the tree, the event tent was punctured, a chef was injured and the Jubilee Luncheon was canceled Sunday, Oct. 12.

Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News Jubilee Luncheon fundraiser at the Grove Sunday, Oct. 12 was canceled after a very large section of a tree fell on the caterer’s tent at about 10 a.m.

Most of the catering staff heard the tree breaking up and got out of the tent in time, but the chef was hit by the falling limbs and sustained non-critical injuries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent School senior killed, parents hurt in car crash

Emergency responders block Amenia Union Road in Sharon Saturday, Oct. 11, while responding to the vehicle crash.

Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

Updated Oct. 13, 9:25 a.m.:

SHARON — Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, of Salisbury, died Saturday, Oct. 11, in a tragic car crash on Amenia Union Road in Sharon.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rhys V. Bowen

LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.

Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kelsey K. Horton

LAKEVILLE — Kelsey K. Horton, 43, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a courageous battle with cancer. Kelsey worked as a certified nursing assistant and administrative assistant at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, from 1999 until 2024, where she was a very respected and loved member of their nursing and administrative staff.

Born Oct. 4, 1981, in Sharon, she was the daughter of W. Craig Kellogg of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and JoAnne (Lukens) Tuncy and her husband Donald of Millerton, New York. Kelsey graduated with the class of 1999 from Webutuck High School in Amenia and from BOCES in 1999 with a certificate from the CNA program as well. She was a longtime member of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Lakeville. On Oct. 11, 2003, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she married James Horton. Jimmy survives at home in Lakeville. Kelsey loved camping every summer at Waubeeka Family Campground in Copake, and she volunteered as a cheer coach for A.R.C. Cheerleading for many years. Kelsey also enjoyed hiking and gardening in her spare time and spending time with her loving family and many dear friends.

Keep ReadingShow less