From humble beginnings in 2009, to a thriving community garden 10 years later, members of Grandview Neighbourhood Garden are busily harvesting the fruits of their labour. As early as 2007 future residents of Grandview Heights selected an area of the terraced land on the stadium area of the former Calamedia Race Track as the site for a future community garden.
In 2009 an eager gardener planted a potato patch in the still undeveloped land. There was no water, no fence to protect against foraging deer and elk, and a constant battle against existing brush and bracken fern. The first crop was not abundant, but future gardeners joined, and with grants from Kootenay Co-op in Nelson, Columbia Basin Trust, RDCK Area J, the City of Castlegar, Heritage and Kootenay Savings Credit Unions and Columbia Power plus donations and labour from community members, a garden was created.
The garden now includes a water supply, a six foot high elk and deer fence and an electric bear fence.
There are 19 four foot by eight foot framed garden beds, larger plots on the upper and lower terraces and six larger berry plots.
One of the mandates of the garden is to encourage young gardeners so they offer a free plot to a child or grandchild of a garden member. One of the young gardeners has won first prize for the largest sunflower for three years at the Pass Creek Fall Fair, and this last year he also won third for largest pumpkin and first for largest potato.
The garden is open to all residents of the area. For information on plot rental contact Helga Auld at 250-304-2281 or Bob Engsly at 250-304-2717.