Flushing “Free Land Rush”

When was the last time you heard of anybody offering free real estate? When was the last time it was in Queens?
It turns out that at the moment, there are five 15 foot by 5 foot parcels of excellent soil in the Queens Botanical Garden, and if there are no takers already on file, the spaces will be made available to seniors over the age of 60, as part of their Senior Garden program.
Now in its 43rd year, the Senior Garden has approximately 40 members who grow vegetables from acorn squash to zucchini, sweet strawberries and pretty flowers - and tend apple, fig, and pear trees - from April to September.
Members are free to take home whatever they grow in their gardens.
“We used to have 65 garden spots, but they moved us as part of the master plan,” lamented garden chair Lola McLinden. “In the next phase, they’re going to move us again and we’re planning on more space.”
Apart from the earth’s bounty, senior gardeners appreciate the exercise, fresh air, tranquility, and pride of accomplishment that come with gardening.
Another benefit is the close friendships that grow along with the plants. Every Wednesday, the senior gardeners meet for a picnic table lunch under a white tent.
They celebrate birthdays, trade jokes, discuss gardening techniques and brag about their grandchildren. Occasionally, the group organizes trips to other gardens or the Philadelphia Flower Show.
A sign near the garden’s gate promises, “Don’t grow old, grow vegetables.”
The garden is open to members Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until Noon. The quarter-acre garden is located near the College Point Boulevard gate of the Queens Botanical Garden.
In summer, senior gardeners open their gate to the public on alternating Saturdays so members can answer questions, share experiences, and display prized vegetables and flowers.
Since many members have gardened for decades, their collective experience represents hundreds of years of practical expertise in getting things to grow well in an urban setting.
The Senior Garden is in the southwest quadrant of the Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street in Flushing, about a five-minute walk from Main Street and a short distance from the Crommelin Street parking lot.
The garden is close to stops on the Q44 and Q20 bus lines and a heart-healthy walking distance from the Main Street stop on the No. 7 Train or Long Island Rail Road.
For more information, visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 718-886-3800, Ext.520.