A group of gardeners and would-be gardeners came together this week to discuss creating a local community garden.

“A community garden is a great place for people to meet and share ideas, be with their children, grow food, and try out new things,” said co-organizer Rick Wood. Wood, of Jacob Gates Road, and Tom Aciukewicz, of Depot Road, found growing enthusiasm for a community garden when they raised the idea to friends, neighbors, and on Harvard Local’s Local Foods e-mail forum.

Better growing conditions and a sense of community were common motivations expressed by the dozen people who gathered at the Hildreth House last Sunday evening.

Paul and Susan Morris, who raised vegetables for years on sunny, flat land in Pennsylvania, said they were not aware how much they would miss their garden until moving to Harvard and a backyard of “ledge, shade, and wetlands.”

Longtime gardener and former high school teacher Ann Taylor said she would like a place where Harvard residents can come together, especially for kids to learn from seeing and doing. Deb and Joe D’Eramo, who are happy with their vegetable garden on Warren Avenue, echoed Taylor’s interest in a place for young gardeners. They also welcome a chance to share what they’ve learned and to meet other gardeners.

Although Carolyn Hottle has a home garden on Stow Road, she said she is looking for more space and misses the community garden she shared in Peterborough, NH.

Describing herself as a new gardener, Lisa Rosen of Jacob Gates Road said she is hoping to grow vegetables with her children, and learn from others at a community garden.

The group would like to follow natural practices that build fertility through composting and other organic means, and seek natural alternatives to pesticides.

While an enthusiastic discussion covered a range of topics, including possible layouts, innovative irrigation methods (a bicycle-powered pump was one), start-up costs, composting, and ways to keep out wildlife, the group recognized that their biggest question is where to garden.

The group’s first priority is to find a sunny public or private acre or two with water for irrigation. They hope to explore possibilities with the Conservation Commission and the Harvard Conservation Trust.

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Harvard had a community garden on Littleton Road conservation land opposite Orchard Hill Road.

“I just thought it was great,” remembers Blanche Foss of Fairbank Street. Foss, who was treasurer for the garden, recalls that John Wilhelm tilled the land that was then divided. “I think we had 20 x 20-foot lots and there was a brook for water,” said Foss.

When asked if deer were a problem, another community gardener commented that deer were a rarity then. She noted that the land was later used by the Garden Club as a holding area for plants and cuttings for its annual spring plant sale.

The new group would like an idea of how many other people are interested in creating a community garden. Anyone interested or wanting more information should contact Rick Wood, rwood@siteduck.com, or Tom Aciukewicz, a2z.tom@gmail.com.