ROCKPORT — Applications are available for community gardening sites at 63 Washington St, Camden and Erickson Fields Preserve, 124 West St., Rockport.

Dreaming of early radishes, crispy lettuces, and snappy beans? Two area community gardens have joined to offer a pair of options for gardeners eager for warm, sunny soil.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust is once again taking applications for community garden plots at their Erickson Field Preserve on Route 90 in Rockport and have partnered this year with the 63 Washington Street Senior Center in Camden to form the Penobscot Bay Community Gardens.

The plots at 63 Washington Street have long been coordinated by Beedy Parker. This year she was looking for some help and contacted Aaron Englander, the Erickson Fields Farm program manager. "MCHT has been a great community resource with their Aldermere and Erickson farms", said Beedy in a news release, "and I thought they would be a good partner to help sustain this wonderful in town garden site."

The Camden site at 63 Washington Street has raised beds in a village that gardeners can walk or bike to. Ample sun shines in the back yard of this small seniors' home. Sixty-square foot, raised beds are available for $25.

Alternately, Erickson Fields Preserve offers the more traditional farming experience. The preserve is owned and operated by Maine Coast Heritage Trust's staff at Aldermere Farm. A dairy farm for generations, Erickson Fields offers 100 square foot plots. Nearby, a spirited Teen Ag crew will be tending their gardens, much of which is donated to local food pantries.

Erickson Fields, which sits on a breezy knoll, is close to the intersection of U.S. 1 and Rt. 90. The gardens are surrounded by a deer fence and offer water, manure, and guidance.

Plots are $50 each and financial assistance is available if needed. Contact Aaron Englander directly for a confidential inquiry. There will also be a limited number of tall raised garden beds suitable for anyone physically limited from gardening at ground level.

Apply now for a garden site. Those interested in 63 Washington St, may contact Beedy Parker at beedyparker@gwi.net.

Those interested in Erickson Fields Preserve plots may contact Sharon Hobson, a volunteer garden coordinator at vinocurious@gmail.com.

For more information about financial assistance or other Erickson Fields programs, contact Aaron Englander (aenglander@mcht.org), call the Aldermere Farm Office (207-236-2739) or visit www.aldermere.org and 70 Russell Ave, Rockport.

Both gardens can be found on Facebook at Penobscot Bay Community Gardens.