BONNYVILLE – Gardeners in Bonnyville could have a new spot to get their hands dirty.
The Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) is in the planning process of adding another community garden in town.
Both the Town and MD of Bonnyville councils agreed to provide a letter of support for the initiative as the local organization looks into grant funding.
“We’re still in the preliminary planning stages, but the location we’re anticipating to use is the space between the Sobeys and Wholesale Club,” explained Mason Unrau, LICA education outreach assistant, in a letter to town council. “The land is owned by the Wholesale, who is currently working on an agreement for establishing a community garden on their land.”
Unrau described the current community garden “as a small lot across from the tennis courts.”
“It’s managed by the Seniors' Drop-In Centre, and after conversations with them about the potential of starting a new garden in a larger and more prominent area, they have given their (verbal) support and are willing to promote it amongst their group,” he detailed.
Although the seniors' centre board hasn’t passed a motion regarding the garden, president Germaine Prybysh thinks the idea of having two locations would be great for the community.
“It’s about food, feeding people, being out in the fresh air, and the wellbeing of people being outside and active,” she told the Nouvelle.
Yvette Shostak, secretary for the seniors' centre, agreed, “The more that we can encourage people to grow their own food or tend to their own food would be great.”
Unrau also reached out to the Bonnyville Community Church, Getridofit Lakeland store, residents, and other groups in the area looking for support.
“Not only will this garden be a great tool for education and a fresh source of produce, but it will also beautify the currently unused space.”
Both Prybysh and Shostak hope LICA will be open to feedback regarding the design and the possibility of making it accessible to seniors. One suggestion they offered was raised flowerbeds to prevent someone from having to bend over too much.
The finer details of the garden are still being worked out by LICA, but they're considering building a shed or other structures for storage at the garden, if they can get the go-ahead from the town.
A final budget and plan will depend on the success of their grant funding application.