Community Garden

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, at 302 St. Alban’s Drive, Salisbury, Maryland is opening our land for a community garden.  There are people living in nearby apartments who may not have access to land to garden but would like to grow their own vegetables and flowers.

We will have an introductory meeting on Saturday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the garden plans, and register people for plots.  We will serve coffee and donuts.  We ask that you pre-register at albansgarden@gmail.com.

Here are the garden plans.

 

  1. Plot Assignment & Fees
  • Application: Plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Fees: A fee of $5 for a 4x4 plot; $10 for a 4x8 plot; $15 for a 4 x 12 plot; is required at registration. Financial assistance is available.
  • Non-Transferable: Plots cannot be sublet or reassigned to others without permission.
  1. Maintenance & Upkeep
  • Planting Deadline: You must begin cultivating your plot by May 20, 2026. Unworked plots may be reassigned without a refund.
  • Active Care: Plots must be weeded and maintained. A plot that becomes overgrown with weeds may lead to forfeiture.
  • Pathways: Gardeners are asked to help maintain the pathway surrounding their plot, keeping it free of weeds and obstacles.
  • End of Season: Plots must be cleared of dead plants and rubbish by Thanksgiving.
  1. Gardening Practices
  • Organic Only: The use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers is prohibited. Only organic methods are permitted.
  • Plant Selection: Do not plant illegal substances or highly invasive species. Tall plants (like corn or sunflowers) should be placed where they will not shade neighbors.
  • Watering: Conserve water by using the mulch that we will supply. We will control the irrigation.
  1. Shared Spaces & Tools
  • Tool Care: Clean and return all borrowed tools to the storage area. Do not take community tools home.
  • Compost & Waste: Place vegetative waste in designated compost bins. Pack in, pack out all other trash and personal items.
  1. Safety & Conduct
  • Respect: Only harvest from your own plot unless you have explicit permission from another gardener.
  • Supervision: Children are welcome but must be constantly supervised by an adult.
  • Pets: No pets are allowed in the garden.
  • Hours: The garden is open from dawn to dusk.

 

Questions?  albansgarden@gmail.com    410-742-6595

About the garden

The St. Alban’s Church property is a large parcel, almost five acres. The footprint for the building complex, pathways, labyrinth, and parking lot utilizes about one third of that land area. In response to congregation suggestions about potential use of remaining available open space, and in concert with related landscaping and tree-planting initiatives, the Vestry approved creation of a large Community Garden in 2009.

Although the modest initial size of the garden - nine 10’ by 10’ plots - has increased, the intended purpose has remained constant: to share the St. Alban’s resources with the local community at large, including nearby apartment dwellers. Community and Church members have adopted individual plots and enjoyed success growing a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers, including tomatoes, beans, okra, cucumbers, peppers, basil, dill and zinnias.

The plots are in full sun and have good draining, sandy soil typical of the region. Gardeners bring their own tools and supplies, but water is available from Church sources. In response to St. Alban’s care of creation and sustainability priorities, a new rain capture system using a large cistern was installed in 2020 to supply garden and landscape needs. Gardeners are requested to grow organically and to keep their plots well-maintained and the paths between them in good condition.

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