The Potato House Project
Angie Mindus photo
The Potato House, located on the corner of Borland Street and First Avenue downtown in Williams Lake, offers compost drop-off, garden spots and fresh fruit, free for the picking, such as concord grapes.
Historical house and gardens get new lease on life For nearly 50 years a small downtown lot with a blue and white bungalow yielded corn, squash, tomatoes, grapes, apples and a ton of potatoes every season. It was an amazing half-century run, when suddenly one of the two dedicated gardeners sadly passed away and the old house was put up for sale. The soil became hard and unloved. Plants died and weeds flourished. Mary Forbes, a hometown youth, saw an opportunity where few might not.
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What else did this old home have left for the community? Now in its eighth year, the Potato House survives and thrives. The heritage designation of this old house is thanks to the many partners and participants who helped create the Potato House Sustainable Community Society. Potato House services include Canada’s only drive-up community composting program. The property also boasts a number of community garden spaces and beautiful fruit trees, making the downtown space an oasis in the heart of the city’s core available for anyone to stop in. In 2016 volunteers built a community root cellar in the basement which provides cold storage for potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables donated for use by the Salvation Army food bank and other community members. This year, with more restoration projects underway, the Potato House is about to become a 1,200 square-foot, micro community hall where folks can be married, hold a potluck gathering or an annual general meeting. With natural light filtering through the vintage glass windows over the original claw foot tub, even the dust motes are put to work as ambiance in the vintage bathroom. During the restoration work a treasure trove of historical documents dating from the 1940s were discovered tucked away in the walls and attic of the building. The Potato House has also become home to annual family events. The Halloween Pumpkins and Bubbles Family Photo-shoot is followed by the evening Costume Prize Parade and Haunted Potato House that attracts hordes of people and where composting is so easy even brain-dead zombies can do it. In December the society hosts Historic Holiday Photos with Santa Claus during the community’s Winter Lights Festival. The Potato House was once categorized as “dilapidated,” but love and landscaping has made it nostalgic instead of neglected. The public is invited to bask in the sun next to the community garden beds, enjoy the heritage herb gardens, drop off your compost or just drop by to say Hi! Bringing along a camera is recommended. The Potato House is part of a community initiative to create a land with more gardens, a landfill with less waste, and a greater appreciation for where we live. The Potato House is a home from the past with a plan for the future. For a tour of the house, or on anything from compost, to pest deterrents to a look inside the time capsule that is the Potato House, text Mary Forbes at 250855-8443, check out the Potato House website at www.potatohouseproject. com or give them an e-mail at grow@potatohouseproject.com . Also, keep an eye out for more information regarding a community heritage endurance event to take place over the May-long weekend. 2018 Guide to Williams Lake and Area