Green thumbs at Lakewood Ranch should be planting in community garden soon
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- In the works for the past year, Lakewood Ranch residents are preparing to open their first community garden.
Funded by $4,000 in seed money from Community Development District 4, which serves the Greenbrook neighborhood, the garden finally has a footprint.
It is a 70-by-70-foot plot in Adventure Park, adjacent to the Paw Park at 13010 Adventure Place. This week, a green chain-link fence was installed around the property where 24 4-by-8-foot garden beds are marked on the grass.
Joe Sidiski, who serves as a supervisor for District 4, has spearheaded the effort to bring a community garden to Lakewood Ranch as a new way to allow residents to socialize, exercise and grow fresh produce for the table.
After District 4 adjourned its monthly meeting Thursday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, Sidiski drove to Adventure Park to talk about the garden.
"Within three weeks we will be planting in the garden," Sidiski said, as Roger Sutton installed PVC pipe for irrigation.
Green thumbs will start with gardens at ground level, but eventually they will have built-up beds, Sidiski said.
"It took a long time and we had our share of issues, but I think we are about there," he said.
Sidiski has recruited a corps of volunteers to help with garden management, including care of the compost heap and common area maintenance.
The annual fee for a garden plot is still being negotiated, and will likely be about $25 a year for Lakewood Ranch residents, and about $40 a year for nonresidents.
Anyone wanting more information about the garden may email Sidiski at joe.sidiski@lwrtownhall.com or Gary Glass at gary.glass@lwrtownhall.com.
In other business Thursday:
Anne Ross, executive director of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, reported that two bid proposals had been received to replace high-sodium street lamps on major Lakewood Ranch streets with LED (light-emitting diode) lamps. Supervisors are making the change to save money on electricity and maintenance.
Those bids are expected to be submitted to supervisors during their March meeting.
Steven Zielinksi, chief financial officer at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, advised supervisors of their fiscal 2017 budget workshop dates. Those dates and times:
-- District 1, serving the Summerfield and Riverwalk villages - 7 p.m. March 28, April 25, and May 23.
-- District 2, serving Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club - 3 p.m. March 31, April 28, and May 26.
-- District 4, serving Greenbrook - 6 p.m. March 21, April 27, and May 25.
-- District 5, serving Country Club North - 10:30 a.m. March 31, April 28, and May 31.
-- District 6, serving Country Club West - 10 a.m. March 29, April 26, and May 24.
-- Inter-District Authority - 9 a.m. March 21, April 25, and May 9.
All of the budget meetings will be held at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter@jajones1.
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Green thumbs at Lakewood Ranch should be planting in community garden soon ."