The Westwood Garden Club is back! According to Mary Gorman of the Club, “We never went away, just worked quietly and safely behind the scenes during the pandemic. Now it is time to re-introduce the community to this vibrant Club that has contributed to our town for 94 years!”
Westwood Garden Club continued during their activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, however:like many other organizations, the Westwood Garden Club cancelled in-person group and public programs starting in March 2020. When the weather allowed, Club members who were able, met outside in small groups to brainstorm ways to continue to work together safely and to move forward in spite of the pandemic.
Some the WCG "behind the scenes" pandemic activities included:
- Smaller groups met informally in member yards and other safe outdoor locations to share plants, help members with their gardens, and stay connected.
- Partnerships with Westwood High School, Deerfield Elementary School, Adams Farm Community Gardens, and other community members on the 2022 Westwood High School week long "J-Term" project of immersive outdoor experiences for high school students to focus on sustainable gardening practices and pollinator gardening. The multi-generational program resulted in 60+ volunteer gardening hours to assist 2 long term residents (one to restore her overgrown organic gardens, and the other to clean up and plant
a section of native pollinators); clean up of the Martha Jones School Butterfly Garden, hands on exploration and immersion in a Westwood residential garden and the Adams Farm organic Community Gardens. The Westwood Garden Club will continue to partner with the J-Term group in 2023.
- Met with a Massachusetts Butterfly Club founder and Monarch Butterfly expert to learn about their amazing 2500 mile annual migration and ways to help ensure the survival of this singularly unique pollinator (while helping other pollinators as well). In 2022 the Club "raised" and released monarch butterflies into the Monarch Butterfly Waystation in Walpole, MA.
- Upcycled natural back yard materials to create Holiday craft gifts for Garden Club members. Visited and delivered to long term members who were homebound due to the pandemic.
- Cultivated a 400 square foot organic garden as the outdoor classroom for the Westwood Garden Club during the 2022 growing season. Harvested over 250 pounds of organic produce and herbs and distributed to Garden Club members. The weekly harvest dayserved as a special opportunity for members to visit safely outside together. Fresh produce was delivered to homebound Garden Club members. The garden also provided educational volunteer opportunities for high school students.
The members unanimously voted to continue the Community Garden in 2023. Early vegetable plants (peas, spinach, chard, chives, garlic, lettuce, radishes, turnip, and more) are already growing in the Club's 2023 community garden! Contact the Club for opportunities to get involved!
The Club will resume meeting monthly from September to May, hosting a range of programs and workshops of interest to lifelong, new or lapsed gardeners, and others interested in horticulture and
the environment. Guests and new members are always welcome.
To learn more about joining the Westwood Garden Club, contact:
Mary Gorman, Westwood Garden Club at 781-326-2276 or 617-678-5874
For further information, please go to their website: https://www.westwoodgardenclub.com/
