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Conservation commission advances Jiggs Donahue food-forest planning, sets tentative Earth Day schedule
Summary
Commission members reviewed status of the Jiggs Donahue food-forest proposal, discussed soil testing and targeted neighborhood outreach, and agreed on an earlier April date for an Earth Day cleanup to avoid conflict with neighboring groups.
Torrington Conservation Commission members revisited planning for the Jiggs Donahue community food-forest (sometimes described as a community orchard), discussed recent soil-sampling efforts, and set a provisional date for their Earth Day cleanup and associated outreach activities.
Members reported that the conservation district had taken a preliminary soil sample that did not show obvious contamination; the conservation district was working to arrange more complete laboratory testing but had experienced difficulty finding testing labs. The commission reviewed historical aerial photos and municipal records: historical imagery shows the site was wooded in the 1938 aerials and later converted to parkland. Commissioners noted the parcel is low-lying and adjacent to the Naugatuck River floodplain, and they discussed an on-site manhole and sewer infrastructure that will affect planting layout.
The commission debated the scale and public language for the project, noting past public concern over calling the proposal a “food forest.” Members discussed that “community orchard” might read differently to neighbors. They considered outreach choices (mailing radius, targeted Spanish/English materials, lawn signs and local placement) and agreed a more limited, targeted mailing to the immediate block and nearby three-family homes would be appropriate for this site. The commission also discussed permitting and the possibility that Parks & Recreation could change its position; members said they would want written confirmation of Parks & Recreation approval before investing in larger-scale mailings or materials.
For scheduling, the commission agreed to hold the Earth Day cleanup on Saturday, April 12, 2025 (the week before Easter), to avoid conflict with a neighboring group's scheduled date the following weekend. Members discussed planting timing (mid-May versus early June) and decided to plan a mid-May planting window but leave exact dates conditional on soil test results and confirmation from the conservation district and Parks & Recreation.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare a limited, bilingual neighborhood mailing and to bring draft outreach materials and a copy of any Parks & Recreation approval to the next meeting. No formal vote was taken; the commission requested continued coordination with the conservation district and Parks & Recreation and asked staff to confirm written approvals before final printing and distribution of outreach materials.
