With springtime just a few months away, the Spruce Street Community Garden is ramping up towards the start of its 2025 outdoor growing season!

Since its formation in 2014, the Spruce Street Community Garden has grown to consist of 28 raised-garden beds, 12 single-and-double high community beds & an educational rotary garden. The garden hosts Manchester residents each year, ranging from first-time growers to lifelong gardeners, and offers growing opportunities on a yearly basis (from March to March of the following year).

The Spruce Street Community Garden’s Prospective Gardener Application (2025) will open on Wednesday, January 8th at 9:00 AM. Successful completion of this application will add you to the waiting list for the 2025 growing season & will ensure you are included on all preseason garden communications. Placement on the waiting list is first come, first served and open to Manchester residents only. Please click here to complete the application.

Please note that completion of the Prospective Gardener Application does not guarantee a garden bed for the 2025 growing season. Bed registration will officially open for those on the waiting list at the Garden Registration Event on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 at the Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce Street.

In addition, the Spruce Street Community Garden will be hosting free monthly learnshops at the Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce Street. Learnshops include:

Grow Your Own Superfoods: A Hands-On Microgreens Learnshop (January 9, 6:30 – 8:00 PM) – Microgreens are nutrient-packed, easy-to-grow plants that add a healthy boost to any meal. In this interactive 90-minute workshop, participants will learn the basics of growing microgreens, discover their nutritional benefits, and make their own pot of microgreens to take home. Attendees will also receive step-by-step instructions and helpful links to continue growing microgreens at home with ease.

Smart Gardening: Harnessing the Power of Companion Planting (February 13, 6:30 – 8:00 PM) – Discover the natural benefits of companion planting and how it can boost your garden’s health and productivity. In this 90-minute interactive learnshop, participants will explore the principles of companion planting and learn how to strategically group plants to enhance growth, repel pests, and optimize space. You’ll leave with a personalized planting plan, a handy companion planting reference guide, and the skills to design a more harmonious and productive garden.

Seed Starting Success: Grow Your Garden from Scratch (March 6, 6:30 – 8:00 PM) – Starting seeds at home is a rewarding and cost-effective way to grow your own garden. In this 90-minute learnshop, participants will learn everything they need to know about successfully starting annual seeds indoors, from choosing the right seeds and soil to lighting, watering, and transplanting techniques. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, potting their own seeds to take home, and receive a seed-starting guide with key tips for success.

Container Gardening for Fresh Vegetables: Grow More, Spend Less (April 10, 6:30 – 8:00 PM) – As food prices continue to rise, learn how to grow your own fresh vegetables in small spaces with container gardening. In this 90-minute learnshop, discover which vegetables thrive in containers, create cost-effective soil mixes, and develop watering strategies to keep your plants healthy. You’ll also explore succession gardening techniques to maximize your harvest throughout the growing season. Participants will engage in hands-on planting and should bring a food-safe 5-gallon bucket or a 7-inch deep pot for their project. 

For further information on the Spruce Street Community Garden, please visit the Spruce Street Community Garden’s official website and Facebook page. Questions? Please contact Recreation Supervisor James Costa at [email protected] or (860)647-3089.