2024-25 SACO COMMUNITY GARDEN STEERING COMMITTEE
Bruce Martel
Amanda Mondor
Amanda Mondor
Chair
Amanda Mondor
Amanda Mondor
Amanda Mondor
Vice-Chair
Joel Hersom
Amanda Mondor
Joel Hersom
Treasurer
Bertha Dawn
Karen Martel
Karen Martel
Recording Secretary
Karen Martel
Karen Martel
Karen Martel
Communications Secretary
Walter Buczacz
Walter Buczacz
Walter Buczacz
Member-at-Large
Karen Campbell
Walter Buczacz
Walter Buczacz
Member-at-Large
Linda Edgerton
Walter Buczacz
Linda Edgerton
Member-at-Large
Polly Gosselin
Polly Gosselin
Polly Gosselin
Member-at-Large
Ciera Lazarus
Polly Gosselin
Polly Gosselin
Member-at-Large
A Brief History of the garden
How it All Started
The Garden was established by community volunteers in 2009, and is now in it’s 16th season. This garden in Haley Park on King Street in Saco began as an idea to increase the “Green” in Saco. Beginning in March 2009 we created an organization, solicited support, and dug in to make the Saco Community Garden a reality.
With Help from our Friends
The City of Saco provided the site, a few dedicated York County Master Gardeners supplied the know-how and many civic organizations and businesses gave generously to start and maintain the Garden:
- Anchor Fence
- Biddeford Regional Center for Technology
- Boy Scouts of America
- Dayton Sand & Gravel
- Deering Lumber
- Girl Scouts of America
- Godbout Plumbing & Heating
- Hannaford Supermarkets
- Lavalley Lumber
- Maine Community Foundation
- Maine Energy Recovery Company
- Moody’s Nursery
- New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
- Patriot Subaru
- PeoplesChoice Credit Union
- Precision Screw Machine Products, Inc.
- Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco
- Rotary Club of Saco Bay
- Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution
- Saco Frame Center
- Saco Masonic Lodge No. 9 AF& AM
- Saco Parks and Recreation
- Saco Valley Credit Union
- Sam L. Cohen Foundation
- Sam’s Place
- Southern Maine Medical Center
- Winterwood Farm
- York County Federal Credit Union
It Took Some Work
The site, while ideal in terms of parking, water access and sun, had more of a base of grass over street rubble than an ideal planting medium. We excavated down more than a foot and replaced the soil with a Winterwood mix of 50 percent loam/50 percent organic compost. Volunteers measured out the plots and renters quickly claimed their 48 gardens. Students from the Biddeford tech school designed and built our handsome post and beam shed.
And we keep working!
We've added seven plots, including a raised-bed plot
Our shade porch, built by an Eagle Scout candidate, offers a pleasant place to rest or have lunch .
The seed library, donated by a local Girl Scout troop, is located outside the gate and offers free gardening seeds to the public.
Our gate has been replaced. Many thanks to Anchor Fencing for their expert construction and their generous donation to this project.