Mercedes Kane, a long-time resident of Bedford has shared memories of her Community Garden in the 1970s:

Forty years ago I had a plot in Bedford's Community Garden, located at the base of the big hill on Hartwell Road.   

It was my 'secret garden', a source of calmness and peace away from a very busy household.  My garden adjoined those of Bob Slechta and Bob McClatchey, both of whom were master gardeners to me.  I especially loved the tall, wispy cosmos Bob S. had planted.

I asked my husband, Tom, to come down to the plot one lovely spring day, to spade over the soil before planting began.  I remember standing there, breathing in the smell of freshly turned dirt, listening to the birds, and thoroughly enjoying myself.  I turned to Tom and said "I am really loving this...my Polish genes are so happy!"  Tom, sweating profusely, leaned on his spade and replied "Well, my Irish genes are not so happy....they're telling me 'it's time for a beer!"

The garden experience continued along for several more years, but each season saw less harvest, due to wildlife sharing the space.  The breaking point came the day I walked down the garden path and met a very fat groundhog sitting there, with a look in his eye that said "Well, what did you bring me to eat today?"  He'd obviously enjoyed a good meal already, leaving me nothing but a few sprigs of basil!  It was fun while it lasted.

Final score:  Mr. Groundhog 1, Gardener 0