Community News

A garden grows on Merrick Avenue

Cornell Cooperative Extension offers tips and tricks of the trade

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East Meadow’s Horticultural Center and Demonstration Garden, on Merrick Avenue between Prospect Avenue and North Jerusalem Road, and just north of the East Meadow/Merrick border, is there to educate people on the many ways to grow a garden without pesticides or fertilizers.

“We want to show you that you can do it all at your own home,” said Bonnie Klein, a Cornell Cooperative Extension community educator, who recently gave the Herald a tour of the farm.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, a local arm of the statewide program that aims to educate the public on ecological and agricultural issues, maintains the farm. Formerly at Eisenhower Park, the farm moved to Merrick Avenue in 2012 to become more visible to the public.

The farm primarily serves as an educational resource, and is open to the public. The plants and vegetables are not for sale, and the farm is subsidized by Nassau County grants. But Klein said she fears that the farm may be in danger of being cut from next year’s county budget.

The farm includes a butterfly garden, planted literally in the shape of a butterfly. The garden features flowers that attract butterflies, and dozens can be seen hovering around the plants.

Other areas include the children’s educational gardens, and at back, a community garden is sectioned off with plots where members of the public can grow and maintain whatever plants they want. “This is everybody’s place,” said Klein. “It’s a community.”

Flowers and bright-blue benches sit underneath an archway at the welcoming entrance to the community garden, which was designed by members of Merrick Girl Scout Troop 2536 for their Silver Award project.

During the tour, a family was at work watering their private garden. “I’m psyched my red leaf lettuce is growing!” exclaimed Jon Zucker, who lives in East Meadow. One of his sons, Aaron, lent a hand with the work. “It’s an after-dinner activity,” he said. “We never get enough of it.”

“This falls right into our vegetarian lifestyle,” added Jon, who said that having a spot in the community garden gives his family a place to grow their favorite vegetables.

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