Community Garden Tour in Centre City
On October 13th, 25 people took part in a walking tour of gardens in Centre City.
On the tour, we learned from hosts of 5 different gardens, each with a unique design and purpose.
Michelle and Dominic introduced the Stella’s Circle Bonaventure Garden, situated in the historic “Brother Brennan Field”. Staff from Stella’s Circle, including Green Team members create and tend beds with residents of King Gate Condominium. This land was once overgrown, but has transformed into a vibrant space for food and community.
The Aldershot Community Garden Committee started growing this year, in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Viviana explained that the timing was right and having sample guidelines helped it come together quickly. Common spaces in the garden included shared herb beds and small benches. The benches can be moved around, to make gardening easier.
At the St. Bonaventure College School Garden, teacher sponsor Chris Peters, showed the value of gardens and outdoor spaces at schools. In addition to the food grown, students and teachers can use the space as an outdoor classroom with different subject areas. The group had many questions about composting, and Peters shared a design for a wooden pest-proof compost bin [Download PDF].
Behind The Gathering Place is a beautiful garden and greenhouse. Thanks to the efforts of staff like Ashley, guests, and local donors, the produce is grown and shared in meal programs. The space hosts wellness programs like yoga and art. An important priority is to have physical accessibility to all parts of the garden. A ramp is planned to allow wheelchair access from the upper level to the greenhouse and all garden beds. Volunteers are welcome to contact The Gathering Place to assist next year.
We visited a garden in a Georgetown resident’s side yard, and Jack explained people take part to grow food, flowers, or simply enjoy the green space. This garden includes individual beds and shared shrubs and fruit trees, including rose hips.
The tour was a chance for people to share the history of gardens, tips and tricks, network and meet people. When people were asked about their top food issues in St. John's, they identified the need to expand local production in both gardens and farms. There is a role for the City in making public spaces available and accessible. Other ideas included storage sheds and greenhouses, which would help growers get started earlier.
Community gardens are an important part of food in the city - they provide space for people to work together, be active, and share food.
If you are inspired by these gardens and want to get involved, check out the resources below!
Visit Food First NL’s Community Food Action Space site to view:
Local Programs Map for listings of gardens and other food programs near you
Visit the City of St. John’s Community Gardens page for information on starting a garden on City-owned land