Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 growing season.  Three different plot sizes are available:  a small plot measuring 10' x 10' rents for $15; a medium plot measuring 10' x 20' rents for $30; and a large plot measuring 20' x 20' rents for $50.  The fee covers the rental of the plot for the season, water, compost materials, and a fenced-in, sunny location. 

     For more information call Garden Coordinator, Barbara Grabfelder at 586-8841.  Applications for the 2010 season can be downloaded from this LINK or from each of the four member municipalities: Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Glenburn, and South Abington. 

Please mail the completed application with the appropriate fee to Abington Community Garden, 507 Gladiola Dr., Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

     The Abington Community Garden was honored recently with two awards:  The Countryside Conservancy's 2009 Stewardship Award for diligence in preserving and improving our lands for the generations to come, and the Abington Journal's "Best of the Abingtons" award for the best non-profit project. 

     The Abington Area Joint Recreation Board is proud of the work that is being done at the garden and looks forward to another bountiful season.  Plans are under way again this year to distribute any extra vegetables to the local food pantries and homeless shelters. 

     A work day was held on May 2-3 and over 55 gardeners helped dig a trench to bring water to the left side of the garden.  Work was also done on laying landscape fabric and wood chips on the pathways.  The gardeners have  planted their "cold weather" crops such as broccoli, cabbage, snow peas, and onions but the ground needs to warm up before the other vegetables can be added to the garden.

All garden plots have been rented for the 2009 growing season and that a Waiting List has been established. This was announced by AAJRB Vice-Chair Barbara Grabfelder at the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Abington Community Garden held March 30, 2009 at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church.   

GARDEN WORK DAYS ANNOUNCED for  Saturday, May 2, 9 AM - 12:00 Noon, and Tuesday, June 23, 7:00-9:00 PM 

Applications for the 2009 Community Garden are now here. The forms are available in both Microsoft Word format here and Adobe PDF format here. To view PDF documents the free Adobe reader can be found here.

GARDEN SEMINARS -- BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST...The Abington Community Garden will again partner with the Penn State Master Gardener Program and the Abington Community Library to offer two gardening seminars over the winter months.  Both programs are free to the public but seating space is limited so registration is required.  Call the library at 587-3440 to make a reservation. 

Gardening Seminar Schedule Follows:

         March 16, 2009 (Monday) - "Preserving Your Harvest" - March 16, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Ryon Room of the Abington Community Library.  You've done the planting, you've tended the plants, and now they've matured and are ready to be harvested.  NOW WHAT?  Come and learn how to preserve those vegetables!  Learn the basics of freezing and canning so you can enjoy the vegetables all winter long. 

     Although the Abington Community Garden has been "put to bed" for the 2008 growing season, a lot of work will be done in the coming months to make certain the project is run efficiently in 2009.  The following goals have been set:

     WATER: a permanent water line will be installed in late spring on the Left side of the garden using the same "hydrant" style that is currently used on the Right side.

     GUIDELINES: our rules and regulations committee will meet to use the lessons learned from our first year of operation and update the Guidelines. 

     EDUCATION:  The Penn State Master Gardener Program has agreed to present more garden seminars for 2009.  We will again partner with the Abington Community Library and hold a series of lectures.  Please email Barb Grabfelder ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with suggestions for topics for this year's seminars.

     COMPOSTING:  We're looking for garden members to volunteer to go to the garden and "turn over" the compost area.  This needs to be done throughout the winter.  Simply lift the compost material from the bottom and bring it to the top and add some dry leaves (stored next to the compost material) into the mix. 

     NEW MEMBERS:  If you are interested in obtaining a plot, print out this application, complete it and mail it with your check payable to AAJRB to:  Abington Area Joint Rec Board, 304 South State Street, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.