Members of the Horticultural Association and Community Food Connections pose for a picture behind the pollinator bed in the community garden.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Horticultural Association presented a donation this week to Community Food Connections for expansion of its community food gardens.
The garden, located at Osborne Park in northeast Crescent Heights, currently has 20 beds, but the $5,000 donated will help them continue to build the space, says Alison Van Dyke, food security co-ordinator.
“We had a garden down on Kipling Street, and the land was donated to another organization for an affordable housing complex, so we had to move to a new location,” said Van Dyke. “So we’re developing this garden, of course, which is a fairly pricey enterprise, and the horticultural society has graciously donated $5,000 towards the development of this space. So we’ll be using that money to buy more beds and soil fill for the garden.”
Currently, there is a significant waiting list for the gardens, something they wish to shorten or possibly even eradicate with the addition of more beds.
On the Horticultural Association’s behalf, president Marilyn Kusler said members are thrilled to contribute to community endeavours, especially those with a gardening theme, and help encourage more people to learn that art.
“We’re always looking for projects, something that’s horticulturally related, and this was just a really good fit. I mean, food is important to everybody, so this one just worked. I think it dovetailed perfectly with our goals,” said Kusler.
Those interested in potentially managing a vegetable bed in the space can look on the website, foodconnections.ca, and applications for garden beds begin on Jan. 1, 2025.
“There’s a small annual fee per plot for these ones here, it’s $20 a year. So very minimal cost. We provide water here on site, and you, you come and you’re responsible for planting and maintaining and harvesting your produce,” said Van Dyke.
Van Dyke explained that the goal of the gardens is to both provide a space where people can safely grow their own produce, but also connect with where their food comes from, especially small children.
“Sometimes people want to grow things that are not readily available in a grocery store, so this gives them that opportunity as well,” said Van Dyke. “It’s great to involve some of the younger members of the community as well. The parents teach their kids to grow young, and those kids will usually continue to make healthier food choices.”
The goal for the space is to have 80 garden beds available.
