Registration Underway for Canoe Meadows Community Gardens

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Canoe Meadows community garden spaces are now open to rent through Mass Audubon for organic gardening.
 
Every spring, Mass Audubon rents space in its organic gardens to members at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary on Williams Street in Pittsfield.  Participants have been growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs at the two-acre gardens site for over three decades. 
 
"Canoe Meadows gardeners have developed great friendships over the years," said Diane Wetzel, Master Gardener. "They love to share their knowledge of growing vegetables with novices while enjoying the spectacular view of the Berkshires."
 
In order to participate, all community gardeners attend a virtual organic gardening workshop offered free of charge on Thursday, April 29, at 6:30pm-7:30 pm.  Information will be shared about the benefits of organic gardening as well as practical information on how to incorporate this approach in your garden. Gardeners in the program are also required to commit to organic gardening. This free program is open to all gardeners, not only our community gardeners. The gardens are expected to open on May 1.
 
The garden sites, which measure 15 feet by 20 feet each rent for $35 for Mass Audubon members.  Currently, a special half price $32  Mass Audubon family membership offer is in effect.  Gardeners may rent multiple sites if they wish.  There are also four accessible raised garden beds.
 
This year Mass autobahn is offering need-based financial assistance to new or previous gardeners who are eligible.
 
Those interested, can call the main office at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox to register for the workshop on April 29. Participants may register online www.massaudubon.org/pleasantvalleyprograms or by phone 413-637-0320,. You may also email berkshires@massaudubon.org for more information.
 

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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