CommunityGardens Gardens--Grow, Grow,Eat Eatand andLearn Learn Community Thereisisan anincreased increasedrecognition recognitionofofthe theneed needtotoreduce reduce There ourdependence dependenceon onimported importedfood foodand andtotogrow growand and our produce more of our own. No place is this more evident produce more of our own. No place is this more evident thanin inthe theincreased increasednumber numberofofresidents residentsininSt.St.John’s John’s than developingtheir theirown ownbackyard backyardgardens gardensororbecoming becoming developing involvedinincommunity communitygardens. gardens. involved Asidefrom fromimproving improvingaccess accesstotonutritious nutritiousfood, food, Aside involvementininaacommunity communitygarden gardencan canprovide providemany many involvement otherbenefits, benefits,including includingaasense senseofofbelonging belongingand andthe the other opportunity opportunityto todevelop developnew newsocial socialconnections. connections. AAdesire desireto tobring bringpeople peopleininher hercommunity communitytogether together inspired inspiredChelsey Chelseyand andher herneighbours neighbourstotoestablish establish aacommunity communitygarden gardenatatthe theKenmount KenmountTerrace Terrace Community CommunityCentre. Centre.“We “Wethought thoughtaacommunity communitygarden garden would wouldbe beaagreat greatway waytotogrow growour ourown ownfood foodand andtoto build buildaasense senseof ofcommunity communitywithin withinour our neighbourhood,” neighbourhood,”says saysChelsey. Chelsey.This Thisgarden gardenhas hasgrown grown to toinclude includeten tenraised raisedbeds, beds,including includingone onedesigned designedtoto meet the needs of those with decreased mobility. meet the needs of those with decreased mobility.
Being involved community gardens also provides Being involved in in community gardens also provides endless opportunities learn and share knowledgeendless opportunities toto learn and share knowledgefrom discovering what produce varieties work best from discovering what produce varieties work best in in our climate, what compost ‘recipe’ gives greatest our climate, toto what compost ‘recipe’ gives thethe greatest chance success, how preserve carrots and beets chance ofof success, toto how to to preserve carrots and beets once the growing season ends. Chelsey notes, “There once the growing season ends. AsAs Chelsey notes, “There just much learn and much experience is isjust soso much toto learn and soso much to to experience by by being involved in a community garden. ” She attributes being involved in a community garden.” She attributes much what she has learned about gardening much ofof what she has learned about gardening to to conversations she has had with other more experienced conversations she has had with other more experienced gardeners. She hopes toto start passing onon thisthis passion gardeners. She hopes start passing passion and knowledge toto her young daughter, who willwill start and knowledge her young daughter, who start her gardening ‘career’ in in 2022. her gardening ‘career’ 2022. How toto become involved in in a community garden in in How become involved a community garden StSt John’s John’s Do you know ofof a place in in your neighbourhood that Do you know a place your neighbourhood that you think would be suitable for a community garden? you think would be suitable for a community garden? Do you have a group of of friends or or neighbours who areare Do you have a group friends neighbours who interested in growing their own food? If so, please email interested in growing their own food? If so, please email usus atat healthycommunities@stjohns.ca or or callcall 576-8628 healthycommunities@stjohns.ca 576-8628 toto start the process of turning your vision into a start the process of turning your vision intoreality. a reality. Alternatively, you can contact one of of thethe existing Alternatively, you can contact one existing gardens directly to see if they have beds available. ForFor a a gardens directly to see if they have beds available. listlist ofof gardens currently operating in in St.St. John’s visit thethe gardens currently operating John’s visit Food First NL website at nlfoodaction.ca or the Food or or Food First NL website at nlfoodaction.ca or the Food the Food Producers Forum website at at the Food Producers Forum website foodproducersforum.com/nl-grown. foodproducersforum.com/nl-grown.
CITY GUIDE | SPRING 2022 21 35 CITY GUIDE | SPRING 2022 37 21 CITY GUIDE | SPRING 2022
