Plymouth State students urge planning board to list land and prioritize community gardens

Three students who identified themselves only as Savannah, Sabrina and Keegan told the Plymouth Planning Board they want the town to plan for more community gardens.

"We are students at Plymouth State University and we are here to advocate for the creation of more community gardens in Plymouth," Savannah said during the board's general public-comment period, providing an issue brief from the New Hampshire Food Alliance. She asked the board to compile a list of public land that could be used for gardens, to treat growing food as an encouraged use of open space, and to give communities the opportunity to claim town-owned land for food production before it is sold for other uses.

The students argued community gardens provide multiple public benefits, including food for struggling households, outdoor education for children and stronger neighborhood ties. "Local food production is a backup plan for our whole community," one student said, noting supply-chain and access concerns that became apparent in recent years.

Board members responded with supportive questions about implementation. A member said the idea was "a great idea" and asked whether mechanisms could include town-held parcels, land trusts or other tools. The students said they were unfamiliar with specific mechanisms and were seeking the board's help to identify potential public sites and policy options.

The board did not take a formal vote on policy but acknowledged the request and suggested staff and board members could follow up with guidance on potential steps, such as inventorying town-owned parcels and exploring whether existing land-use regulations can be amended to encourage food production.

The item was raised during general public comment and the board moved on to its scheduled agenda.