Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Paul DiMauro nourishes his communal plants.
As children with flushed faces and cherry cheeks raced around a playground in the summer heat, Paul DiMauro enjoyed a similar sense of freedom a few feet away — spending another morning of his retirement tending to seeds that will soon sprout into rosy tomatoes in a shared community space.
DiMauro, 66, was found on a “hot and dry” day watering and weeding two garden plots he rents in a community garden located behind Hamden’s Miller Memorial Library.
He spoke about the joys of gardening in a Thursday conversation during the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’S“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
DiMauro drives to the garden once per week. He and his husband, Henry, have paid $20 to the town each year for half a decade for the chance to grow their own fresh vegetables and herbs — which the pair then use to make nutrient-rich meals.
The garden has more than a dozen raised garden beds that are situated 8 to 10 inches above what used to be a paved parking lot, according to DiMauro.
As a retired chemist, DiMauro occasionally puts his skills to use while closely reading the chemical ingredients used in fertilizers. The Hamden community garden uses only organic plant products, he said.
Coriander, fava beans, hot peppers, shallots and parsley are a few plants DiMauro is growing this summer. He always makes sure to set aside space for tomatoes — which he turns into tomato sauce.
On occasion, he’ll also blend pestos or fry up some fava beans and green onions.
He said the garden’s produce is noticeably superior to store-bought ingredients.
Especially tomatoes. Your standard grocery store tomatoes, he reported, are “bred for transportation” to have extra thick skins — and therefore less flavor.
Shallots galore.
Tomatoes are a staple for DiMauro, who grew up gardening as an “Italian family tradition” he took up with his father — they would then make their own pasta sauces together using the red fruits.
Still, DiMauro makes a point to try out new things. This is his first year growing shallots.
“I really don’t know how to cook with shallots but I’ll learn,” he said.
In the past he has tried growing sweet peppers and zucchini, but they didn’t harvest well.
Beyond vegetables, the space has also helped strengthen community bonds. In previous years, DiMauro has joined up with other planters to watch Fourth of July fireworks and celebrate seasonal harvests with potlucks.
Flavio the fava-bean watching hedgehog.
Originally from Middletown, DiMauro moved to Hamden 30 years ago. The first year he found his way to the gardens, he noticed he had inherited a clay hedgehog hiding in the corner of his plot. (These reporters dubbed him “Flavio.”) Flavio isn’t the only wildlife that lives in the gardens; DiMauro said he regularly spots sparrows, goldfinches, and once saw a white crown sparrow.
While gardening beside the playground, DiMauro also sees another species: children. Sometimes he tosses a stray ball back over the fence to curious children who occasionally ask him “What are you doing?”
The garden currently has a waitlist for residents to rent garden plots, DiMauro reported.
“There’s quite a big turnover because people realize that its a lot of work and give it up,” he added.
After wrapping up with weeding, DiMauro returned to Henry and his Hamden home — where he has half an acre dedicated to ornamental plants like perennials and shrubs. And, of course, a couple of tomato towers.
Watch the Thursday segment here.Click on the above video to watch the interview with Paul DiMauro on the "Word on the Street" segment of WNHH's "LoveBabz LoveTalk."
Excellent title.