Community gardens thrive in new location

How lucky we were this year to have our community gardens move closer to home. In June, our friends over at Clip n’ Dig moved our raised boxed gardens from the corner of Hemlock Rd. and Thornwood Rd. to right here beside the community centre. The relocation of the gardens has allowed for better access to water, and therefore a lusher and greener garden.

Although it was a late start to the planting season, our summer day-campers helped to plant the garden boxes. Kale, daikon, turnip, carrots, tomato, basil and more all enjoyed our organic soil and loving care. The children would arrive each day and peer into the boxes to see how much their seeds had grown. A rewarding experience to see the fruits of your labour (literally) pushing through the soil.

Towards the end of August we had our first harvest. Parents and campers were able to bring home fresh vegetables during the last week of summer day camps. The staff also enjoyed bringing home their bouquets of kale.

The first week of October, Eugenie Waters of Manor Park’s Environmental Sustainability Committee’s, assisted in harvesting a large portion of our garden. Beautiful bright beets, turnips, kale, beans, tomatoes and more were plucked, washed and brought to our neighbours at 500 St. Laurent Blvd.to be distributed at their community open house. It was so wonderful to share our organic produce with neighbours.

So if you know a child who helped to plant our gardens this summer, let them know that their efforts went to great use. We hope our gardens will be enjoyed by all who pass by and admire the tall sunflowers, colourful zinnia and lush greens.