[From the City Secretary’s Weekly Keys to the City email and copied here]
The City of Pflugerville welcomes you to the grand opening of its first community gardens on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The Pecan Street Community Gardens is located next to the baseball fields in North East Metro Park (2703 East Pecan Street).

At the grand opening event, attendees can learn more about community gardening, pick up a garden plot application, meet City staff who are knowledgeable on the project, and participate in hands-on activities, including a fruit tree planting around the community gardens.

The Pecan Street Community Gardens are available to City of Pflugerville residents and Pflugerville ETJ residents. The spring garden season will be from February 1 to July 31, and the fall garden season from August 1 to January 31. The gardens will follow the hours of operation of North East Metro Park, which varies depending on the season, but will be open seven days a week.

Gardeners are encouraged to be creative with plant selection to create an attractive, aesthetic garden with a bountiful harvest. Only organic pest controls or nutrients are allowed within the Pecan Street Community Gardens. An “organic practices” handbook will be available to gardeners. No illegal or poisonous plants may be planted. Water is provided free of charge by the City of Pflugerville for gardener use (water hoses are not provided). A community tool shed will also be available, containing hand tools for gardeners’ use. Children are encouraged to participate, but must be supervised at all times.

Garden plots are offered in three sizes: 20’x20′, 10’x10′, and an accessible 2’x20′ plot. All plots are available on a first come, first served basis, with future preference given to continuing gardeners. Garden plot fees are based on plot size and duration.

Plot and Duration Options:
Full Plot (20’x20′)—Full Year ($50)—Half Year ($25)
Half Plot (10’x10′)—Full Year ($25)—Half Year ($12.50)
Accessible Plot (2’x20′)—Full Year ($25)—Half Year ($12.50)

Students (18 and under) and Seniors (55 and over) are one half of the above listed prices.

Applications and release forms for the Pecan Street Community Gardens are available on the City website or can be picked up at the Pflugerville Recreation Center. Completed applications and release forms can be turned in immediately at the Recreation Center; however, gardening activity cannot begin until after the grand opening event on March 21. When a gardener turns in their application and pays their plot fee, Parks and Recreation staff will assign a plot number and provide a copy of the community garden rules.

For more information on the Pecan Street Community Gardens, including the garden application, rules and release forms, visit: [http://tx-pflugerville2.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=1167].

To receive the City’s weekly email called Keys to the City go to the the www.cityofpflugerville.com and subscribe.