At our low-income housing complex, the adjoining Community garden required the rebuilding of a Garden Entrance bulletin board structure with new shingles and boarding on three sides, complemented by the planting of bulbs for spring flowers.
Potting soil was purchased to fill pots and garden beds for planting the spring bulbs. We enlisted the help of one of our gardeners to construct the Entrance Bulletin Board and pulled together a garden members’ work party for building up beds and planting bulbs. Hot chocolate and muffins were purchased and shared at the work party.
One of our challenges was finding enough people to participate in our work party, but with a positive invitation, we had a great turnout!
The offer of snacks was an enticement!! We learned from the process that if people are invited and welcomed warmly, participation happens!!
Another challenge was endeavouring to make wise choices and economize on products to further the project. For example, we chose to purchase bulbs at a garden centre that gave us a discount on our garden membership.
We are looking forward to beautiful blooms soon!! Our Bulletin Board entrance structure is now much stronger and more attractive and has the capacity to hold and protect from rain the paper bags with garden leaves, etc., for recycling pick up. And the area now looks so much more welcoming to gardeners and visitors!!
These repairs will help to extend the life of our Community Garden, which, in addition to supporting the needs of individual gardeners (some low-income), supports the local Food Security initiative.
