Crops are in the ground at Minden’s new community garden.
It’s located at the Minden Fairgrounds near the bandshell and run by the Minden Community Food Centre.
Gary Stoner, secretary at the food centre and spearhead of the project, says they’ve been able to do more than expected.
“We budgeted for 15 plots but built 20, and I’m pleased to say that all 20 have been rented,” says Stoner. “People have been very busy getting their seeds in, or their seedlings, [and] it looks good. We’re very pleased.”
Stoner says renters have planted a variety of different crops, ranging from tomatoes and radishes to flowers. He adds that the four-foot by twelve-foot plots have also been built deeper than planned, allowing for longer-rooted crops.
According to Stoner, two to three beds have been set aside by their renters to grow fresh produce for the food centre.
“I know one is potatoes, and there may have been some lettuce and other products,” says Stoner. “So there will be some crops available through the good of some of the gardeners. Those products will be delivered this fall to the food centre.”
The project has been in the works since last year, and Stoner says it’s garnered much community interest. He says a grant from the Haliburton Community Development Corporation has helped get things started, and most of the materials needed have been supplied by local businesses.
“The community has been very supportive,” says Stoner. “We’ve had lots of volunteers come out to help build the boxes, and we have a group coming in Thursday night to get the deer fencing up. Then things will be well underway.”
While there are no plans to expand the garden at the moment, Stoner says they’ve gotten permission from the township, and they’ll look into that before the next planting season. In the meantime, the Minden Rotary Club is considering building a shed there for tool and equipment storage.
Stoner adds they’re looking for donations to offset the cost of the garden. Cheques can be dropped off with the Minden Community Food Centre at 24 Newcastle St., and e-transfers can be made to [email protected].