Save the date for the 2025 Jay Scott Community Garden plot lottery! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a budding enthusiast, the Environmental Commission invites you to submit your information to receive a vegetable garden bed for the year.
How to get started
Registration opens on March 28, 2025.
- Fill out the online application form by April 15, 2025
- Provide your Somerville residency details
- Cross your fingers (and maybe do a little rain dance) that your name gets picked out of the hat! Together, we’ll cultivate not just vegetables and flowers, but a vibrant sense of community. Looking forward to a beautiful season together!
About the garden
Nestled between Fire Engine No. 1 on 170 East Main St. and the pickleball courts, the Jay Scott Community Garden is a 1,400-square-foot vibrant green space that currently holds 14 (3.5 ft by 6.5 ft) garden beds. The community garden is a space where Somerville residents can connect with nature, grow fresh produce, and cultivate a sense of community.
This garden was founded in 2022 through the dedication of Environmental Commissioner and Green Team Lead Rebecca Reitman and Commissioner Geri DeSapio. Their vision and leadership helped turn an idea into reality. The Environmental Commission received invaluable support from the Public Works and Recreation departments, plus grant funding from PSE&G and the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). The garden was designed, built, and officially dedicated in 2022 in memory of Jay Scott. His contributions to Somerville left a lasting impact, and his legacy continues to inspire sustainability and community engagement.
Jay Scott’s legacy
The Community Garden honors Jay Scott’s lifelong passion for gardening and community building in Somerville. A dedicated educator, Master Gardener, and founder of the town’s first farmers market, Jay inspired generations by integrating gardening into schools, mentoring young gardeners, and advocating for sustainable food systems. His long-standing service on the Somerville Recreation Committee (2009-2017) reflected his commitment to strengthening the town he loved. “Jay would have been delighted by the garden and the amazing progress the team has made,” said his wife, Peggy, at a garden event.
Today, the garden stands as a living testament to his legacy, providing a space for residents to grow food, connect, and continue his mission.
Get involved
Learn how you can help make Somerville greener!
- Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date!
- Do you like to volunteer, socialize, or learn? We have volunteer days to help maintain the community garden in the spring and fall, along with social events and workshops about gardening and other topics.
- If you’re interested in being more involved in the garden, please email Green Team Lead Rebecca Reitman at rreitman2@gmail.com.