WINDSOR GARDEN GROWING STRONG:IN A TIME OF BUDGET CUTS, PROJECT FOUND A WAY FOR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS TO GROW ORGANIC PRODUCE

By day, Rob Huebschmann works for Motorola doing information technology program management. On the weekend he co-chairs the Windsor Community Garden at the corner of Windsor Road and Joe Rodota Way.

Last week he gave us an update on the two-year-old project and talked about the successes and failures that go with the art of gardening.

Q: How did it get started?

A: Most of downtown Windsor's residents live in townhomes. They wanted some space for growing their own vegetables.

The Town of Windsor planned to run a community garden, but due to budget cuts, the project was put on the chopping block. They eventually gave the Windsor Garden Club the option of running it as a nonprofit effort on land that belonged to the town.

We don't pay rent, but we are responsible for running the garden and paying for water and insurance. The plot fees ($50 a year, with a few smaller ones at $30) cover that.

Q: What are some rules? A: Everything must be organic. And because it's a public shared space, no one can grow anything that is illegal, even if they have a permit for it. And you cannot have pets where you are growing food.

Q: Have you had anyone stealing food?

A: No, but we generally have so many things growing that nobody would notice if something was stolen.

Q: What's next?

A: We're building three more rows of plots that will basically finish this garden out, two of which are already rented. We only have six or seven plots available.

Q: What do most people grow?

A: Vegetables and a few fruit trees and berries.

Q: Where does the food end up?

A: Most vegetables end up in people's homes, but when production is running high, we put a bin on the picnic table and everyone is told that if they have extras, they can put them there for the Windsor Service Alliance.

Q: What was the first thing you grew?

A: I started orange and lemon trees from seed in elementary school.

Q: What about your personal flops?

A: I don't grow lettuce, I'm not attentive enough. You have to keep it watered and harvest it before it blooms. Mine always bloomed. And I can't grow bell peppers. Other people can do it, but for some reason I have terrible luck with bell peppers. Q: What's in your garden now?

A: It's embarrassing. It's a bit overgrown because I've been traveling a lot for work. \[Editor's note: He was traveling so much he didn't have time to pose for a photograph.\]

This winter I focused on growing new things -- a tree collard, curly mustard, green collards and some Swiss chard.

Last summer I grew mostly tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini, and pretty much ate everything I grew fresh from the garden.