The past two evenings, we assigned 23 of the 25 empty plots, including the newly created plots up front. Only 2 new plots are unassigned now. For the first time in at least 10 or 20 years, all of the 120 old plots are assigned! With the 15 new plots, we have a total now of 135 garden plots.
We have a rule that plots need to be worked by June 1, so the next step is to see if there are plots that aren't being worked and maybe we'll have more plots to assign at this time.
The plot assignment process takes some time and is very pleasant in the spring dusk. We walk new gardeners around in groups in groups of 6 and point out the available plots and answer questions about their pros and cons: where's the closest faucet, what's the soil and sun exposure like, etc. Then, gardeners pick their plot in the order their application was received.
It very fun to see how gardeners stress over their selection and then, once the choice is made, they look so happy. New community gardeners! I remember the feeling. They take out their tape measure or shovel and putter around. They poke at this and that and I can just see the process of visualizing what will grow where. What fun!