Carol Mireles cultivates fertilizer and compost into the soil in a plot at the Community Gardens at Central Park in Saugus on Monday. Mireles, the Garden Council president, joins other gardeners in planting of cool-season vegetables like beets, turnips, radishes and mustard greens.

Bettye Hicks, of Saugus, cuts through tomato vines for composting.

Danny Freybrun, of Saugus, begins work on a shade structure.