Norwell Community Gardens
Norwell Farms is excited to collaborate with the Norwell Conservation Commission (NCC), Norwell Beautification Committee as well as a variety of other community representatives to design and implement a new outdoor community space with a multi-use plan at the Donovan-Hemingway Field, an approximately 2.5 acre land owned by the Town of Norwell and managed by the NCC. The project scope includes creating a memorial garden dedicated to Nancy Hemingway, the NCC’s previous Conservation Agent who recently lost her battle to breast cancer, a pollinator-supporting wildflower meadow on about 2 acres, and a community garden for food production and education programs on the remaining ¾ acre. We not only see this as a beautiful space of reflection and connection with nature which will honor Nancy's memory, but it will also serve as an opportunity for Norwell residents to further connect with local agriculture in an ecological way.
The project will be implemented in stages with the memorial garden and soil preparation on the whole site being completed this 2021 season. The phased approach will allow the newly formed subcommittee overseeing the project to allocate the appropriate funds as well as continue developing its design on the remaining areas. Below is the proposed work to be delivered in 2021 as well as clarifications on the overall proposed multi-use delineation at the Field:
Proposed Programing Delineation: The existing cottonwood tree, which stands proud as a focal point in the middle of the Hemingway field, will serve as the delineator of all three programs at the field; a memorial garden, a wildflower meadow, and a community garden. Around the tree will be the memorial garden, left of the tree will be the meadow, and right of the tree will be the community garden operated by Norwell Farms, Inc.
Soil Health and Preparation Strategy: To date, we have completed soil tests, have consulted with the State’s Soil Scientist, Maggie Payne, as well as conducted research on the field’s known resource concerns: invasive species, fertility (little topsoil), weed pressure, and water mitigation. For the 2021 season, we will focus on suppressing and mitigating the weed pressure as it will be critical to the successful implementation of the wildflower plantings.
Memorial Garden: We will finalize the design and install an approximately 50’ wide perennial garden with a circular walkway, sitting benches around the existing cottonwood tree. This space is to serve as the main entrance to the rest of the future garden spaces and provide a space for self-reflection. The scope of the memorial garden includes a dedicated plaque to honor Nancy Hemingway, a variety of deer-resistant pollinator-friendly perennial flowers with pink blooms for “Breast Cancer Awareness,” and ADA-compliant walkways in order to be enjoyed by all in our community. The installation and dedication of the memorial garden is scheduled to take place this Fall.