BARBARELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Garden co-founder Amy Davidson gives some instructions to (from left) Wesley Keating, Rita Nigro and Viktor Paris for planting the peas.

The River & Roots Community Garden began its second season Saturday morning with a garden bed cleanup.

Downtown gardeners built bamboo trellises, planted peas in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and covered beds with hay to conserve water and promote seed propagation,

Plans for the garden this season include painting the outside of the raised beds, and the town plans on installing a playground adjacent to it. There will be a yard sale fundraiser June 2 and 3, location to be announced, and a date will be set in March for a donation day in the garden.

Garden organizers are also accepting names for the 2012 gardening season waiting list. Email River And Roots at riverandrootscg@gmail.com.

The organic community garden is a plot of land, provided by the town, divided into 36 raised beds. These plots are then either rented at a nominal fee of $25 or provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis to residents.

Ground rules are established; for example, no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The residents are then responsible for tending and maintaining their plots. This also provides a unique and sustainable gathering place for the community and camaraderie, organizers say.

For more info go to http://riverandroots.org/

photo@timesreview.com