The Town of Minto will create a community garden here in cooperation with a local church.
Business and economic manager Belinda Wick-Graham reported at the April 4 council meeting that town officials have met with representatives of the Palmerston Evangelical Missionary Church to begin discussions on the establishment of a community garden in Palmerston at the back of the church property.
The proposed 30’ by 60’ community garden would contain 20 plots.
In 2014, the town established its first community garden at the Harriston-Minto Community Complex within the fenced area formerly containing tennis courts.
Twenty plots were created and have been full with a waiting list each year, Wick-Graham reported.
In 2015, the Clifford community garden was established on a piece of property owned by Wesley Bates and Juanita Wilkins. This garden contains 10 plots and with two plots available as of April 4.
The arrangement in Palmerston will be similar to an agreement for the Clifford property, where the town uses the lands for the community garden for four and a half months per year for $500 annually.
This is intended to cover the cost of utilities.
The town will provide the community garden improvements (fencing, planter beds, composters, rain barrels, signage etc.) to the lands and maintain the property during the leased period
Improvments will include fencing installation that the town dismantled at the Palmerston public works shop.
The installation of the garden is expected to be completed by the middle of April.
“We are looking forward to this positive partnership with the Evangelical Missionary Church which has already agreed to assist with erecting the fencing, constructing the garden boxes, promotion of the program and providing a venue for educational workshops for the public on planting, harvesting and cooking,” states Wick-Graham in her report, which notes the project will be established within the existing $6,000 budget for community gardens.
Wick-Grahm said Minto TLC coordinator Paul Judge will be offering a workshop on setting up a community garden unit during the first week of May.
The garden units cost $10 per year, plus a $20 key deposit, “so its very accessible,” noted Wick Graham.
“It’s been great working with the chuch,” said Mayor George Bridge, noting the project offers “opportunities to create something really beneficial to the community.”
