Otis Community Garden: August Update

By Margie Klein

August 2025

The garden has been really growing and is tended to so diligently by so many volunteers. There is plenty of lettuce, spinach, radishes, beets, peas, scallions, kale and green beans and so many herbs. The garden is a peaceful place and the vegetables are plentiful. It always amazes me that from a tiny seed comes this glorious food. We are on the lookout for slugs and beetles which attack the plants. Some members like the Tuesday team of Michelle and Annette are leading the charge against these pests. They are always sharing information on an email and are great communicators. We use neem oil, coffee grounds, and egg shells as a deterrent. The vegetable flowers are ablaze with colors, yellow, white, and pink and the greenery is so bright and comforting. I am tempted to pick the yellow squash blossoms and bake them with ricotta. 

Bounty of produce fresh- picked for the food pantry. Photo: Margie Klein

Our weather is constantly changing, giving much to discuss. We are peaceful living in Otis, we are the lucky ones. I’ve enjoyed the sounds of Tanglewood, and flowing movements of Jacobs Pillow. My picnics now include the vegetables we have harvested at the garden. I go to my 8:00am weekly pick for the Otis pantry. It is a great time of day, those morning hours, a new day is dawning. The garden is in flux, even with the new owners, we don’t know the future. Maybe we will have to close the garden, but in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy picking for the pantry on Wednesday. Stay tuned for where we stand in the future.

With all the varieties of lettuce available I make this dressing. Try it, you will like it! 

Lemon vinaigrette

⅓ cup olive oil

½ cup lemon juice - 2 lemons

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

3 cloves garlic, pressed

¼ teaspoon salt

Pinch of pepper and pinch red pepper