From the Cheshire County Conservation District

Small-scale growers and gardeners in and around Keene, NH will soon gain access to new gardening resources through the Keene Public Library. Monadnock Grows Together is a new regional program that offers a range of education, technical assistance, gardening equipment and more, to residents interested and engaged in backyard gardening and small-scale urban farming.

Monadnock Grows Together is an Urban Agriculture project developed in partnership by the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections, the Keene Public Library, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Funding for this urban agriculture conservation grant is provided through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to boost technical capacity nationwide.

Residents are invited to the Keene Public Library on June 23rd between 2pm-6pm for the grand opening of the newly renovated library and launch of the Monadnock Grows Together Seed Library and Garden Tool Lending Library. Representatives from Monadnock Grows Together will be in attendance to answer questions and introduce visitors to the new gardening programs. Take this opportunity to meet your Urban Ag and Gardens Coordinator Rachel Brice, who is available to answer gardening questions, provide 1-on-1 technical assistance, and conduct site visits with local growers.

In addition to the permanent seed and tool libraries, residents are invited to a series of free gardening workshops to be held in Keene and at the Westmoreland Garden Project through the remainder of 2019. Workshops later this month include “Insects in the Garden” with Sam Jaffe on June 13th and “Invasives in the Home Garden” with Jeff Littleton on June 19th. Visit the CCCD’s website for a full schedule of workshops coming this year and additional information on all aspects of the Monadnock Grows Together program: http://www.cheshireconservation.org/monadnockgrowstogether

If you have questions about Monadnock Grows Together contact Rachel Brice, Urban Ag and Gardens Coordinator, by email: Rachel@cheshireconservation.org or visit Rachel during her open technical assistance hours at the Keene Public Library: Every Friday from 4:00-5:30pm starting July 5th.