A plan to expand a community garden here is in its next growth spurt.
Guelph-Eramosa council was given a presentation on the efforts of a homegrown group of volunteers who launched the community garden concept last year and are looking to grow it.
Craig Mosley, of the Rockwood Community Garden Project, told council at its March 17 meeting the group’s first venture was successful with the establishment of a community garden at Rockwood Centennial Public School in cooperation with Upper Grand school board.
“We had a lot of volunteers,” Mosley told council of the 80 students and volunteers who helped clear an unused section of the property then plant vegetables, tend them and eventually harvest them.
The local fire department filled rain barrels to provide water for the plants and food was donated to the East Wellington Food Bank, Mosley said.
He said the group is hoping to extend its theme, “Growing Everything and Everyone Together,” with additional public space this year.
“We’re looking for permission to use public space to do this,” Mosley said. “We’d like have about 20 to 30 plots.”
He said the group is not looking for any financial support from the township, just the use of unused public property.
Mayor Chris White said council has already given its support to the group when it was first established last year.
Township director of parks and recreation Robin Milne offered the group an area of Valentino Park as an initial pilot project supported directly by the municipality.
Milne, in his report to council, offered the group a 120- by 60-foot area of the 4.9 acre neighbourhood park.
“The proposed area is an under-utilized section of the park that is currently manicured turf,” Milne said.
The director of parks and recreation will work directly with the group to establish guidelines relating to the maintenance, appearance, liability and access to the proposed community garden.
There is a municipal water source already at the property, Milne added.
Councillor Doug Breen said he fully supported the program and its aim to teach children how food is grown and where it comes from.
Breen said that “less than one per cent” of people know where their food comes from.
“The big part of this is education,” he said. “There’s nothing better than getting your hands in the soil and planting seeds.” Mayor Chris White echoed council’s support.
“Let’s just get it off the ground,” he said.
