The garden is a collaboration between Kids First Family Resource Centre, Nova Scotia Public Health, and Maranatha Bible Church. The goal for all three organizations is to provide fresh vegetables to families in the community.
“It is a great team effort,” says Debby Turner of Kids First. “We are always trying to learn new things about growing vegetables.”
Pat Stearns, from Maranatha Bible Church, agrees.
“When we started this project a few years ago, we weren’t sure what would happen, but seeing the many families enjoying the fresh food that is grown here makes all the effort worth it.”
Volunteers from RBC help to till and plant while Highland Nissan employees, New Hope clients and United Way staff grow the transplants. A variety of volunteers help to build the deer fence and to weed, water and harvest throughout the summer and fall. Monetary support this year came from RBC Royal Bank, and the Pictou County United Way.
“The garden is well supported by community volunteers,” explains Kelley Cavan, who is a public health nutritionist. “We have had an amazing coming together of community members and groups to make this garden a success.”
They have given away 1,100 pounds of produce as a result of the first two years of the garden. The vegetables are given out at the Community Cupboard and during drop-in at Kids First. New Hope, Tearmann and the Pictou County Food Bank have also benefitted.
“We appreciate the way the community has come together to support this garden,” says Turner. “People enjoy doing something that shows such great results.”
Stearns says they are hoping to grow even more this year because “the need to help families with groceries is even greater than ever.”
