School committee approves expansion of Francis Wyman community garden to boost pantry yield

The Burlington Public Schools School Committee unanimously approved on March 11 a plan to expand the volunteer community garden on the Francis Wyman School grounds, a project volunteers said will increase the garden’s annual yield for the town’s food pantry.

The committee voted to allow the People Helping People Victory Garden to clear part of a hill behind the garden and establish a 25‑foot buffer; the motion passed without recorded opposition.

Peter Capola, senior volunteer at the Community Garden Complex, told the committee the garden has operated for 13 years and supports the food pantry, leased plots for residents and a school garden. ‘‘We need to significantly increase the size of the volunteer garden,’’ Capola said, explaining the current footprint has reached capacity. He estimated the expansion could raise annual yield by roughly 1,100 pounds — to a projected total of ‘‘almost 5,200 pounds.’’ Capola said the DPW would perform excavation and a contractor has offered to remove trees at little or no cost.

Committee members asked about conservation and sight‑line impacts for nearby Laurel Lane residents; Capola said the proposed work would preserve roughly 30 feet of hill as a buffer and would keep sight lines from Laurel Lane unchanged. A committee member asked whether the work could be staged over multiple years using volunteers; Capola said volunteers could help if a phased approach is approved.

Administration representatives said the expansion would not cost the school department. The committee directed staff to confirm any required Conservation Commission or DPW approvals and asked volunteers to coordinate timing so contractors would be clear they have authority to proceed.

Committee members flagged follow-up items: confirming conservation permissions, scheduling work before the growing season if possible and providing a short update to the committee once start dates and permits are confirmed.