Norfolk Sunrise News
RAISING GARDENS
A developing community assistance group is having an impact in Simcoe. As part of the Gathering Food Centre (the food initiative of Church Out Serving), a community raised- garden pilot has recently begun with the hope and goal of expanding. These food gardens are for the benefit of persons and families who normally do not have access to healthy food, and will be supplied through local food programs. The first new raised-gardens of the season were built in May at Hambleton Hall, an affordable housing project recently completed by Indwell. Indwell is a Christian charity that creates communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. Simcoe's Hambleton Hall has provided many things to many people over the years – a Sunday school, place of worship, it was even home to a few weddings. Beginning this month, the once-bustling community centre has now become a home to 35 area residents. With Indwell’s housing initiative complete; it only made sense to offer the raised-gardens to the residents for local food security needs as well as an enjoyable and useful recreational outlet.
Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise had made a financial contribution to the construction of these gardens and on 09 May, an eager team of Sunrisers joined in to construct the gardens themselves. With the help of Church Out Serving’s other community partners (Scott’s Canada Ltd, Gintec Shade Ltd, Evergreen Heights Church and Rona Simcoe), we enjoyed completing the task and learning about a variety of garden bed styles, two distinct types of irrigation, approximately 15 different kinds of vegetables, and friendly ways to deter hungry rabbit criminals.
The food gathered from the gardens will be used by Hambleton Hall residents and donated to local agencies (eg; Salvation Army, Caring Cupboard, etc) for distribution to our neighbours who often don’t have the privilege of fresh and healthy vegetables.
It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed working shoulder-to-shoulder with our community partners in accomplishing this worthwhile community project. As the raised-garden project grows in the years ahead, there will be more opportunities for such community involvement. Green space will be needed to add more raised garden beds, volunteers will be needed to construct the beds, weed, prune and harvest, and support will be needed to provide for this charitable venture.
No doubt, the Norfolk Sunrise Rotarians will be there to help.