KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Monadnock View Community Garden, a treasured community resource with a 50-year legacy, is facing an uncertain future.

Rowland Russell and Tiea Zehnbauer, members of the garden’s leadership team, joined WKBK co-hosts Abbie Trombly and Nicole Colson on My Keene Now & Next this past Saturday to discuss the garden’s origins, its looming displacement, and the urgent need for community support.

Established in 1973 and rooted in the traditions of victory gardens and the environmental movement, the garden has long provided Keene residents with space to grow their own food, build community, and support local organizations like the Community Kitchen. At its peak, the garden boasted nearly 200 plots.

But that era is coming to a close.

Cedarcrest has plans to install a solar array on a piece of the land currently occupied by the community garden. The project, scheduled to begin this summer, will reduce the number of available plots to just 12 this gardening season, less than 20 percent of current capacity (there are currently about 60). Garden leaders say they were not consulted prior to the decision and are now racing against the clock to find alternative growing space for its gardeners.

Zehnbauer pointed out that the garden will not just be losing the plots, but decades of nurtured soil, perennial plants, and community effort. Russell noted that longtime gardeners have worked for years to build the rich growing environment now under threat.

In response, the leadership team is actively exploring alternative sites across Keene and the surrounding area. They’re reaching out to local nonprofits, housing developments, and farms in hopes of finding new partnerships and expanding access to community gardening by next year.

The transition comes with logistical challenges. The garden’s infrastructure—sheds, compost bins, tools, and fencing—must be moved by June 20. Volunteers are urgently needed to help with this work, and fundraising will be necessary to support soil preparation and other startup costs at new locations.

Zehnbauer and Russell also shared long-term goals: forming an official organization, possibly creating a website, and exploring innovative solutions like raised beds and workplace gardens to meet the growing demand for local food production.

How to Help

  • Volunteer: Help move garden infrastructure and prepare new sites.

  • Spread the Word: Share updates via the Monadnock View Community Garden Facebook page.

  • Connect: Reach out to Roland Russell at rrussell@antioch.edu to get involved.

  • Partner: Know of potential land for a new garden? The team wants to hear from you.

  • Donate: Fundraising efforts are underway to support relocation and setup costs.

The story of Monadnock View Community Garden isn’t over—it’s simply entering a new chapter. With public support, its roots can continue to grow in new soil.

Listen to the full interview: