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Health & Fitness

Erin Street Garden Receives Gift From St. Vincent DePaul

North end community works together through volunteering and donations to make the Erin Street Garden a neighborhood oasis.

The Erin Street Community garden, located at the corner of Erin and High Streets in Middletown, is a little bit more colorful this summer thanks to the colaboration of the and .

The garden, a reclaimed plot of land, rescued by the North End Action Team and lovingly cared for by locals, has provided an opportunity for neighborhood organizations such as St. Vincent DePaul to demonstrate their committment to their community through volunteer work and donations. It's one of three community gardens created by NEAT.

The gardens are or have been funded with support from the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council, the Middlesex County Community Foundation, the Middletown Garden Club and an Anonymous Foundation. They have also received support from local nurseries.

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St. Vincent DePaul recently donated a double composter, a wonderful gift that allows the garden's volunteers to both contribute and benefit from the rich composed produced.

The Erin Street Garden hosts over 30 plots worked by various residents, neighbors, community groups and children and "has become a center for community activities and connections" says the North End Action Team website.

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Soup kitchen guests of St. Vincent DePaul get the chance to be involved in every aspect of the gardening process; from helping to till and plant to weeding and even cutting and arranging the bright flower centerpieces that adorn the soup kitchen tables from July through September.

The flowers produced in the Erin Street Garden are a welcome sight in the neighborhood and the garden itself has evolved from what once was a neighborhood eyesore to a beautiful symbol of community pride.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to garden in of the NEAT's community gardens (Erin Street, Macdonough School or Ferry Street).  For more information, email the North End Action Team at neat@neatmiddletown.org.

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