By Erica Donigan
It was early spring of 2023, and neighbors on unassuming Lindbergh Court in Fairfield, CT, were gathered outside on a brisk weekend morning. They chatted and caught up, and noticed the slightly overgrown grassy slope, that had become more and more difficult for its owners on Fairfield Place to maintain.
A stretch of three Fairfield Place properties back all the way up to Lindbergh Street with a challenging-to-care-for and inaccessible 12-foot-deep grassy slope behind their backyard fences. That grassy slope side behind their fences is the center of the neighborhood where Lindbergh Court meets Lindbergh Street, where block parties ensue and where neighbors gather as kids bike in the street.
Later that evening, I came across a grant opportunity through the Connecticut Urban Forestry Council (CUFC), and the dream of the Lindbergh Community Garden was born.
What began as the idea to “plant a few sunflowers” quickly turned into a native pollinator project. The Lindbergh Community Garden, a pollinator pathway mission, was developed in partnership with the support of the CUFC grant (through their small grant program) and the generous donation of matching funds, design work and garden install organization of Christina Koether of Nomadica, a Weston, Conn., based garden design business and small flower farm.
Christina led the plant selection and design part of our process, with a focus on a complete biodiverse native selection to create a true native habitat where there was previously none. With the idea of a three-season native blooming garden for the community to enjoy, an array of natives were thoughtfully selected by Christina.
Early in June, work began with a few neighbors rolling up their sleeves and ripping up a very established 12′ × 30′ patch of grass on the slope. Over 1240 lbs. of grass was pulled up and sent to the compost pile! On installation day, June 11, 2023 – over 15 neighbors from Lindbergh and surrounding streets within the community came together to plant a total of 79 native plants. Our youngest helper was 4 and the oldest to come out for the festivities was 101.
The Lindbergh community is vibrant and filled with walkers, runners and families passing through. The community garden has brought together the neighbors of today, and will continue to bring future generations together for years to come. The community has plans to add to the garden little by little each year – creating a beautiful sight for all to see. The garden is an official Pollinator Pathway and Monarch Waystation habitat.
