LAC LA BICHE - Community garden plots in Lac La Biche are being prepared by their green-thumb curators for their winter sleep.
With the growing season coming to an end for another year, community gardeners who rent plots at the Alexander Hamilton Park have been gradually closing down their little piece of urban farmland.
For the past 15 years, Claudette Dube has been participating in the Community Garden Space Program, which is run by Lac La Biche County. Dube, who also does some gardening at her own Lac La Biche home, says the community gardens have offered not only a chance to grow vegetables, but also to grow some community connections. She has enjoyed conversations with other gardeners as she and her husband have grown potatoes, cucumber, carrots, dill, zucchinis, and onions.
The community garden plots, she added, is also a great place for some peaceful time away from the home-front.
“I love that you can come here, it’s peaceful…it’s all fenced in so there’s no animals that come in or other people,” Dube told Lakeland This Week. “We all just know how to get in with the lock.”
According to information from Lac La Biche County, residents who are looking to get a plot in the Community Garden Space Program are required to fill out an application.
In order to be approved for a plot in the community garden space in Alexander Hamilton Park, gardeners must be residents of Lac La Biche County. As stated by the municipal government, gardens plots are assigned on a first come/first serve basis and are limited to one per individual.
Dube, who has had the same plot for over a decade, said County officials assign people plots when they first start.
“After that, you can sign to keep the same plot…so that way you can add extra dirt if you want, or fertilizer, and know that it’s going to be your plot the next year,” she said.
During the growing months, residents who have plots in the community garden receive a bit of help from Lac La Biche County in the form of extra dirt, wheelbarrows, and other necessities. While the ground plots are free, raised beds can be rented for $20 per season.
While the number of residents digging in and planting fresh veggies varies from season to season, Dube stated that there were fewer than usual for this year. As to the reason for this, she said that some folks underestimate the amount of work that goes into putting in a small garden.
“I think people in the spring all get excited about planting but forget that it’s a lot of work to maintain after,” she said.
Dube doesn’t shy away from the work, and enjoys the gardening work through the growing season. She continues the work through the cooler months, canning and preserving the garden harvest. She plans to continue the garden-grown process next year.
“I do a lot of canning for the winter,” she said, “and I’m looking forward to starting the process again next spring.”
Applications for garden plots and information about the community garden plots can be found on the Lac La Biche county website.