It promises to be a green oasis in town, a place where you can shovel, rake and hoe like homesteaders of yesteryear, and perhaps make new friends.
While pulling carrots, planting seeds or composting, you may be learning the joys of gardening for the first time, or displaying a practised green thumb.
Novices, wise old hands, occasional growers – all will be welcome to apply for a plot at Barrhead’s community garden, which is poised to become a reality near the Shepherd’s Care facility.
The Schneider family has agreed to let a 1.4-acre parcel of their land be used for the trial venture. There is space for fencing, a shed and composters.
“We are extremely excited by this project,” said one of the organizers Mark Myrehaug last Monday. “We think it will be great for Barrhead.”
Anyone intrigued by the plan is invited to attend a 7-9 p.m. meeting at the Multi-Purpose Room on Thursday, May 2.
There will be a discussion of the project, agreements and expectations. People will also have a chance to register for one of the plots. The fee will be $25.
Tilling day at the field – west of the residential area and north of the apartment buildings along 53 Street – has been fixed for May 11.
It will be the culmination of months of hard work outside the glare of publicity by the Barrhead Community Garden Association, whose members come from Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), Alberta Human Services, Highway Two Conservation, and the Town and County of Barrhead. The organizations are donating labour, funding, facilities, administrative fees, equipment, expertise and compost. Several businesses are contributing by providing such things as compost, seeds, tomato plants, a bench and a shed.
Last Monday, association members gathered at the site, armed with rakes, hoes and spades to announce the venture and encourage people with a gardening interest to attend this week’s meeting.
Present were Marilyn Flock and Kyle Meunier, Barrhead county agricultural fieldman and assistant AG fieldman respectively; Barrhead Town council’s municipal secretary Cheryl Callihoo; Highway Two Conservation coordinator Sheila Wooten, Myrehaug, business and industry liaison with Alberta Human Services-Alberta Works; and Ros Rudd, community and development coordinator with Barrhead FCSS.
Wooten said the community garden would provide an opportunity for participants to produce their own garden vegetables in very fertile soil.
It will also boost the level of nutrition for participants, increase the focus of local food and food security, provide a sustainable horticultural education, stimulate market garden development within Barrhead county and increase the sense of community within the County and Town.
Flock said she wanted the garden to have a wide-ranging appeal.
She added the association hoped the garden will serve to increase awareness of local food initiatives, serve as a teaching model for gardening, nutrition and food preparation, and give seniors who miss gardening a chance to return to their pastime.
The plan was also to provide space for those who do not have an area to plant a garden, and teach gardening to those who want to learn.
In addition, the garden could be used to offer some people valuable work experience.
Flock urged people to read the Barrhead Leader for final details and feel free to contact association members with questions. She can be reached at the County of Barrhead at 780-674-3331. Wooten can be contacted at 780-349-3346, ext 249.
Rudd said the garden experiment would run from May until the end of October. She added that donations from the community towards the project would be gratefully received.
Last Monday, Barrhead Town Council turned down a request from the community garden association for a $500 donation.
In a letter to the council, Wooten wrote of the objectives of the garden.
“We have many of the required pieces to make this a success, but some are still missing,” she said. “The Barrhead community garden needs your help!
“To that end, this letter of request for support has been sent to the Town Council.
“We would like to ask for a financial commitment of $500, the use of town owned facilities, in-kind contribution of equipment and labour when practical as well as any other assistance Town Council is able to offer.”
Afterwards, Barrhead Mayor Brian Schulz said he did not believe a cash donation was an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money. Instead, the Town will be making in-kind contributions, he added.
The council has also received another letter about the garden – this one from County Manager Mark Oberg. In it, Oberg informed the Town that the County was considering entering into a May 1-Dec. 31 lease agreement with owners of the community garden site.
