For a handful of residents at Painters Crossing Condominiums, gardening is a priority.
A group of six condo dwellers set up nine garden plots in the common area near the tennis courts. Gardener Anne Stabb, who began the project, said the vegetables — all organically grown — are not just for personal consumption. Extra produce will be given to area food banks, at least from Stabb’s plot.
“The seed was planted in February. I went to the Painters Crossing Council, the association, and asked them if they would consider this, and they were so supportive of this from the very beginning,” said Stabb.
The garden plots are not the first for the condos, but the previous garden was by one person who did not have association sanction. Stabb said the association was so supportive that it extended the growing area to accommodate both old and new growers.
Organic gardening is the rule for these plots. Stabb said each of the gardeners have agreed there would be no herbicides or pesticides used. Growers even signed a contract to that effect, she said.
While “the seed was planted” in February when she went to the condo association, it was germinating in Stabb’s head for a longer time. She tried doing the same thing while living in Florida for seven years.
“I wanted to create a sharing backyard program. I was actually working with someone up in Canada who had a program that was coming across the United States. There was nothing like that in Florida. I thought it was great, but it didn’t work,” said Stabb.
The desire to set up the program remained even when she returned to Pennsylvania. She applied for a job with the Chester County Community Gardens. She didn’t get the job, but her desire didn’t dim. That’s what led to the Painters Crossing garden.
She said it was easy with the support from the condo association.
This is the first year for the garden and Stabb is already looking ahead.
“The council said if this was successful this year we would definitely do it again next year. We may even consider raised bed gardens.”
That would allow them to have more growing space, both for personal and charitable consumption. Stabb said she’d like to see another five gardeners take part next year.
Photo caption: Anne Stabb checks out her garden plot, which is one of six, located at Painters Crossing Condominiums. Photo by Rich Schwartzman
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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Three cheers for Anne Stabb of Painters Crossing for reviving the old gardens at Painters Crossing and for her donations to the food banks. Although I have since moved into a colonial north of West Chester, I moved into the 300 building when I accepted a local teaching position in 1979. A very large garden plot was already on the slope for the residents with the blessing and sanction of the Association. I was one of over a dozen or more residents who grew lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, beans, eggplants and more, on large plots. I even tried without success to grow corn. The garden plots were turned over when the Association put in the tennis courts at the urging of a fast-talking tennis pro who lived for a short time in the 1400 or 1500 building,I believe. And as a former resident of the 300 building, I can tell you, hardly anyone every used the courts.
Again- hurray for Anne Stabb. Her organic gardening for charitble consumption will beneift far more people.
Thank you! 🙂