Robert "Robbie" Powell Jr. sowed the seeds for the town's new community garden in a Currier Woods field last year, so this summer residents can sign up to do their own planting.
The Boy Scout spent the last year raising donations, and designing and constructing the public garden area in a field in the Elsa M. Currier Reservation just off Canton Street as part of his bid for the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting's highest rank.
To be eligible for the Eagle Scout rank, a Scout must lead his troop in a service project.
Robbie said his father, Robert Sr., mentioned the idea to him after hearing Conservation Commission member John Masterson discuss the possibility of community gardening during a meeting. Robert mentioned the idea to the whole troop, Robbie said, and he decided that would be his Eagle Scout service project.
"I really felt I could do something for the community," by building community gardens, Robbie said, "But actually, I learned a lot from this."
That education began with getting permission and materials for the project, and raising funds through donations.
First, Robbie made an appearance before the Conservation Commission to get approval for his plans, Robert said.
Robbie also got approval from the Boy Scouts of America, then spent many months raising the necessary funds. Local corporate donors included Roche Bros. Supermarkets, C. Hultman, Lambert's Rainbow Fruit, Curtis Newton Lumber and C.H. Powell Co.
Once Robbie had permission and about $600 worth of lumber - 36 pieces of pressure-treated pine measuring 6-inches square and 8-feet long, he recruited about 20 of his fellow Scouts to build and set up the garden plots during the weekend of May 23.
But, before they could get started, the lumber, which they had stacked in the field for the project that Friday, disappeared. Someone took the lumber sometime that evening, said Robert.
Robbie said he was shocked. "I just couldn't believe it," he said. The Powells had to buy more lumber out of their own pockets to get the project started, he said, and they had to scale the project down a little.
They also called police, who were very helpful, Robert said. Officer Derek Stokes found half the lumber in a nearby resident's yard, and discovered the person had taken the lumber, thinking it had been abandoned, Robert said. That was quickly returned to the Powells, Robert said. "This officer (Stokes) did an incredible job," he said.
Police found the other half, which had been taken by a contractor, about a week later, he said. In each case, the people who took the lumber said they believed it had been abandoned. Neither the police nor the Powells have pressed charges, Robert said. Some of the lumber that was recovered was returned to the supplier to recoup their money.
Robbie said the work took them about five hours, once they had the materials to work with. The three 8-foot-square plots will be community gardens for the community to plant and grow as they wish, Robbie said. Rain barrels will also be available on the site for irrigation, Robert said.
Anyone interested in planting in one of the plots can contact Robbie at 781-326-7088. If the demand is high, Robbie will use a lottery system to grant the plot area to gardeners.
Robbie and the Conservation Commission hope this public garden will be a desireable destination spot for the community to visit and enjoy the work of the gardening experts who live in town. Ultimately it may expand to include more plots if this initial garden is a hit, Robert said.
