It’ll be a big second year for Minden’s Community Garden.
Gary Stoner, Chair of the Minden Community Food Centre, says all plots at the Minden Fairgrounds are currently spoken for, and renters are in the middle of pre-season preparations. On advice from the Haliburton County Master Gardeners, crops will likely go into the ground by the end of the month.
“You don’t plant anything in this community outdoors until the first full moon following the May 24 holiday long weekend,” says Stoner. “So that’s the guideline we are giving to the plotters, and most of the people are up there doing prep work to get their gardens underway.”
According to Stoner, the Master Gardeners will kick off the season with a seeding exchange and transplanting demonstration at the garden at 10:00 a.m. on May 25. He says people will learn to make sure transplanted crops survive, as well as swap seeds with local experts.
“This is for the public as well, and people are encouraged to bring their leftover seedlings and give them to a good home,” says Stoner.
Once the season is underway, Stoner says the Haliburton County Public Library will be teaching kids how to garden at one of the 20 plots. “If people want more information, they can call their local library, and perhaps there’s room for more,” he says.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Minden has started building a new tool storage building with a grant from the Haliburton County Development Corporation. He says the foundation is built, siding has been purchased, and Rotary is footing the bill for the rest of the structure.
While that project is already funded, Stoner says donations are always welcome. “We always look forward to donations here at the Food Centre, and if there was an interest to make a contribution to the garden, we can take that as well and we’ll make sure it’s used for the garden itself,” he says.
As for the Food Centre, Stoner says last year saw a good amount of donated produce coming in from the garden.
“Last year we had a fair number of carrots, and lettuce, and onions, and so on, so we’re very appreciative,” says Stoner. “Certainly one of the objectives is to ensure the gardeners have vegetables they require for their own consumption, but to consider making a donation of any surplus to the food centre. Many of them did last year and we’re very appreciative of it.”
While there are no plots specifically dedicated to the food bank right now, Stoner adds there’s been some community interest in expanding the garden and donating plots to the not-for-profit.
“All the proceeds then would come to the Food Centre, and somebody would cultivate it on behalf of the Food Centre, so that is certainly something that is under discussion,” he says.