A Community Garden...
Why Start a Community Garden?
From the perspective of building community life, especially in lower-income under-resource communities, community gardens hold the potential to draw residents into the common space, beautiful previous barren or unused ground, build friendship networks, and promote community safety.
How the Community Garden in Salmo got started.
Last Spring, a group of interested residents of our community developed the idea of doing a community gardening project that would develop community gardens and a community composting strategy, provide a forum for sharing information about gardening, and research the economic possibilities of gardening activities like a Farmer's Market.
Financing and Opportunity
They saw possibilities of securing a HRDC grant to get the project rolling and our local Community Services saw this as a opportunity for several local youths whose employment prospects were limited.
Process and Pooling Community Resources
A Steering Committee was formed and successful in securing the grant, though not the full amount requested. They named the project "From the Ground Up". Two people were hired to job share the Co-ordinators position and hired six young people to participate in the project. Their role was much like those of apprentices, while the co-ordinators acted as coaches. The co-ordinators lined up a range of learning experiences that included trips to commercial gardening and farming operations, training in gardening skills, mentorships with local "garden masters", workshops in teamwork, First Aid, nutrition and composting; assignments in career planning and a personal project.
Project's Learning Experience
As with any pilot project, there are successes and failures. the project fell short in some areas. For many, including the participants, there was an expectation that we would create a community showpiece that would rally the community around the notion of community gardening. In hindsight, I believe that this was a somewhat unrealistic expectation. However, I believe that we could have done better than we did. Our mistake was in spending too much time and energy in the "off-site" training, and not enough time onthe "on-the--job" coaching and learning. Chalk it up to good intentions and not wanting to turn down all the seemingly rich opportunities that were placed before us as options. Fortunately, individuals in the community, members of the Steering Committee, and the young people themselves have provided us with lots of helpful feedback that will assist us in doing it better next year.
The Successes
For all the challenges, the project succeeded in some important areas. It provided training and experience to the participants, all of whom completed the project and are measureably closer to their career and employment goals. It provided labour to assist the Community Garden Steering Committee with their efforts to create a community garden plot. It provided employment to 8 local individuals, who, in turn, spent a large portion of their wages in the community.
In Recognition
For the successes we are grateful to:
- The Steering committee, for having the vision and commitment to the community to initiate the project.
- The Village of Salmo, for supporting the concept and providing the property, equipment, and skilled labour required to prepare the garden plot.
- Human Reosurces Development Canada, for providing the funds to help us realize our goals.
- the many residents of Salmo and the surrounding area, who provided opportunities for the young people to learn from them.
- the professionals, who provided training to the youth at reduced fees or, sometimes, for nothing othar than an honorarium to cover their expenses.
- the Co-ordinators, who gave many hours than those for which they were paid, in order to make the project work.
- the young people themselves, who provided a variety of perspectives and contributions, and despite the challenges, the energy and commitment to see the project through to the last day.
- In all, we felt we furthered the goals of positive local alternatives for young people and increased opportunities for the community to work together.
The Future
As with any first -year gardens, the process has only just begun, which means that we can look forward to watching the garden evolve over the years. Many perennials, herbs, and trees were planted for future harvesting. The soil has been vastly organically improved and ready for next years planting. Community members from all walks of life and ages showed their support with donations of tools, materials and time. The intent is to provide gardening space for people either who don't have access to a gardening plot, or who want to garden with others in a common, public place. This years project ended after a beautiful and educational display at the Fall Fair. The group had photo displays of the work in progress and samples of the preserves and herbal products they had produced. The Steering Committee will continue to meet over the winter months, in the hope of being able to further the project again next year.
Salmo Grows Together. 2001 Report
As the summer of 2001 draws to a close, the gardeners of the Kootenays are bringing in the harvest. Though the Salmo Community garden had a quiet season we are having a great harvest. The Columbia Basin Trust has granted us funds through their families program. With their funding we will be providing educational programs around food, gardens, and self-sufficiency throughout the year. Our goal is to provide greater opportunities for local families to share knowledge and food, improve nutritional awareness and access to healthful foods for individuals and families, and to promote ecologically sustainable economic development for the Salmo community. This is within the CBT Family Program goal of “supporting activities, projects and providing resources to maintain and strengthen the health and safety of families.
We are tremendously excited by this opportunity, and are proceeding with programming for the fall and winter. We will offer workshops that are seasonal for gardens; bulb planting, composting, and workparties to prepare the land for the next years growth; and workshops in food preservation, and an ‘eat with the season’ recipe exchange. A program that we want to develop is a Salmo Fruit Tree Project. Connecting locally grown fruit with people willing to pick and eat it, with the added benefit of fewer bears and wasps in your backyard.
Salmo Grows Together is the coordiator for the community garden in the 2002 season. This organic garden depends on volunteers for maintinence and cultivation. We hope to raise awareness of the necessity of community participation to keep and improve the site. Even 15 minutes a week could help keep any weeds at bay. This garden does not belong to any one group, but adds to the value of the community. Situated centrally, near the old rail line on Hutchinson Rd, it is a haven from the highway and is a pleasant place to stroll to when you are looking for a change of scenery - or some tasty strawberries! Personal allotments are also available for a small fee or in exchange for volunteer time.
This past season the garden has seen lots of activity. The elementary and pre-school children planted peas, potatoes and a sunflower spiral in the Children’s garden. There was fun with the hoses too! The Earth Matters E-team, a group of cheerful and idealistic youth, aided us with the hauling of sand, forming of pathways, and digging out some of the most stubborn weeds. The garden also had the most colourful beds under the greenthumb of local senior, Mrs. Elisabeth Neiderstiener. Her radishes this year were the best she’s ever tasted. Many other members of the community were participants in the activities and many more have offered their aid.
Thanks to all volunteers who participated in the garden this year and hope to see you next year... with a friend or two. Special thanks to: Lisa Doberthien and Cat-Can-Do, Columbia Greenhouse, Earth Matters, Iris Bakken and the folks at the Kootenay Stone Centre, Porcupine Creek Sawmill, Salmo Public Library, Mayor Phillip Berukoff and the Village of Salmo, and our generous patron, the Columbia Basin Trust. Your donations are hugely appreciated.
Smith & Hawken Gardeners' Community Cookbook