On a cool, crisp afternoon in October, Seven of the 14 members from Grandview Neighbourhood Garden met at the garden site to have their picture taken in the newly fenced garden. The smiling faces attest to the happiness felt in knowing that deer and elk damage to garden crops will now be a thing of the past.
Since starting to develop the garden in 2009, our priorities were to develop a water system, fence the garden and to widen the drive access. Thanks to a grant in 2011 from CBT Area J, and grants in 2012 from the Heritage Credit Union Community Fund, the Kootenay Savings Community Foundation and Columbia Power Corporation Community Funding Program, the water system and the fencing have been completed. The widening of the drive remains for another year.
The vision of Grandview Neighbourhood Garden, located on land belonging to Kootenay Columbia Seniors Housing Cooperative, is to create a productive, sustainable food garden open to all residents of Castlegar and surrounding communities. We have gardeners from Grandview Heights, Emerald Green, Ootischenia, Rossland and Fairview, and have room for numerous more gardeners. There are 4ft. X 8ft. raised beds available, and also larger 8ft. X 10ft. plots for berries or other perennial crops. With the fence in place, and a water system, the diversity of crops possible has greatly increased.
For now, the garden work is done and the gardeners are taking a well-deserved break, but next spring will see us out eager to begin digging and planting. If you are interested in gardening but don’t have the space, consider joining Grandview Neighbourhood Garden.
Contact information will be posted on the KCSHC web page, HYPERLINK “http://www.grandviewhousing.ca/”www.grandviewhousing.ca next spring.