It was recently reported that elderly members of the Queens Botanical Garden were furious over "extortion" that now requires them to pay $150 for gardening plots which had been free to use for the past 45 years. But according to QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte, that's not quite the case. She tells us that the fee to use plots was actually $30 last year, and reiterates that it's just $50 if the seniors volunteer, which most of them already do. She writes:

The fee was $30 last year. Part of the Senior Garden rules (as set by them) is that members were expected to provide volunteer service to QBG. We welcomed the few who did help with the Garden as a whole.

This year the fee was raised to $50, accompanied by 4 hours per week of service to the Garden between April and June, our busiest season. Or, seniors could pay $150 and not provide volunteer service. And a scholarship program has been set up for those in need.

The seniors garden three times per week for seven months. That comes to 90 times that people come here, enjoy the company of others, get exercise and grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. That’s $1.67 per day! A bargain, by any measure. I’m sure each takes home more than $150 in produce—and it is good, healthful produce.

We really need the financial help. We lost $83,000 in City support last week. Foundation support is half of what it was a little over a year ago. We had 51 staff members about 3 years ago; now we have 31. Current staff are taking furloughs—days without pay. Everyone is affected by the economy. We need people to speak up and bring support to places like ours, a 39-acre oasis in the heart of Queens.

As for changing the Senior Garden to a "Family" Garden, Lacarte says that they've had inquiries from people who are not seniors who want to learn to garden. Unless the weeds eat those whippersnappers alive.