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Heritage Community Garden
Located at: Adjacent to Southside Church of the Nazarene 10712 29 Avenue
Plot Number: 20
Plot size: most are 4x16’
Gardening Style: raised boxes
Number of Participants: 20 (2006)
Fees: 2006: volunteer labour
Description:
Our garden was started up in the spring of last year by a group of about 13 people ranging in age from 8 to 90. It is located on the property of the Southside Church of the Nazarene. The garden has doubled in size this year, with considerably increased participation from residents of the immediately adjacent buildings.
The reason our garden has come together is to create a sense of sharing and community development through gardening; to embrace the practice organic gardening, share best practices; socialize; connect with mother earth; share and enjoy wholesome organic produce.
Our Successes
Our garden is not particularly visually striking, but does have an exceptionally diverse group and a great deal of enthusiasm and feelings of fellowship. Without money or other resources to start off with, a group of strangers rallied together, collected donated timber, borrowed tools, built planters, and pursued & secured soil from the city authorities. It was hard work but it was so much of fun and we are very proud of the results. Now we are no longer strangers, but friends. This year’s expansion makes two years of great success in a row.
Challenges, Needs and Barriers:
We have a tremendous team spirit amongst the gardeners. We communicate at least each week by e-mail or phone. In light of our strength as a team we really do not foresee any challenges that we cannot overcome. Our vision within the next 2 years is to equip the garden with picnic benches, include communal herb, rose and berry gardens.
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