REGINA — You’re having a salad for dinner but forgot to pick up the lettuce. If you live in North Central Regina, all you have to do is walk to the nearest community garden. No one monitors who harvests the vegetables; people can help themselves.
“When the tomatoes are ripe, come get your tomatoes,” said Michael Parker, the project’s coordinator. “The mom down the road might send her five-year-old to go to the garden.”
On Thursday volunteers were planting vegetables at one of three community gardens run by North Central Community Association (NCCA) – and there are a lot of options, ranging from tomatoes and potatoes to beans, peas and carrots.
“It’s a really good positive way to get the community together to participate,” said Sarah Brooks, a nursing student who was volunteering with some of her classmates, “and it’s a good healthy food option for everyone.”
These gardens go a long way to improve food security in North Central, a neighbourhood with no grocery store and limited access to fresh produce.
Many of those who help plant, weed and water the gardens live in the area. Parker said occasionally there is vandalism at the sites, but getting those in the neighbourhood involved is creating pride in the project.
On Thursday volunteers from the Rainbow Youth Centre’s Road to Employment program were lending a hand. Not only will the volunteer work enhance their resumes, but they are giving back to their community.
“Maybe (they can) bring people down and check out the gardens, help with weeding one Saturday, feel that connection to them, and just know that you’re helping other families,” said Jessica McFarlane, the coordinator of the program.
The gardens are clearly about much more than just food.
“It’s to build community and really to cultivate relationships in the neighbourhood,” explained Parker.
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