BONNYVILLE – Local green thumbs are preparing to plant some roots in the new community garden in Bonnyville.
The Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) put a call out to the community that the beds in the Bonnyville Community Garden and Compost area were open.
“It’s been pretty quick,” Rachel Bates, education and outreach coordinator for LICA, told Lakeland This Week. “As soon as we put up the Facebook post, it was like ‘bang, bang, bang.’ Everybody wanted a bed. We did have a waitlist. There were some people that were waiting since we announced the project so that was about six people and then the next four or five people snatched up the rest of the beds.”
Bates said there were only five of the 15 plots of land left that LICA added to the space between the Bonnyville Sobeys and Wholesale Club.
LICA’s Community Garden and Compost project began two falls ago when the association decided they wanted to add another green space in town.
Once they had the funding and materials they needed, it started to take shape in the spring and summer of 2020 with the help of community members. That work made it possible for LICA to offer 15 beds to community members who wanted to get their hands dirty.
“I think gardening has become really popular since we’ve all been forced to go inside. We’re all looking for a bit of sun and the chance to go outside, get active, and connect with people in our community. I think that’s a big driving factor, everybody is looking to be able to get together with other people in a safe way and the garden is a perfect place to do that,” Bates noted, adding it gives those without backyards the chance to grow their green thumbs.
“It’s an accessible place for people in our community to go, get the experience with gardening, and we’re also very supportive. We would love to teach people how to garden. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have. We would love to have anybody come in and get involved with us.”
Bates said LICA is leaving what plants are in each person’s bed up to them and that they “don’t want to limit people.”
“That being said, we are encouraging people to grow lots of fruits, vegetables, maybe some nice flowers and medicinal plants. Obviously, we can’t have people growing cannabis and things like that, though. Whatever people want to grow that they will use and feel proud of, we’re happy to support that.”
LICA has big plans for the Bonnyville Community Garden and Compost. According to Bates, the second phase of the project will see an additional 37 beds added to bring the total available to 54.
“We’re also going to be adding a gazebo, picnic tables, and benches,” she added. “We’re trying to create a very inclusive community space that people can use, whether they have a bed or not, and make the lot that we’re using a lot more beautiful and accessible to the community.”
Bates said they’re also hoping to have more community gardens created in the future throughout town to create more green spaces.
Robynne Henry, Bonnyville Nouvelle
