CORNER BROOK — Joel Lyver is looking forward to eating the vegetables he and his mom, Jenny Lyver, have planted in their community garden plot.
Lyver is a little skeptical that he’ll try it all, but is hopeful, because knowing where their food came from and that it was grown without the use of chemicals is important to her.
Lyver was one of the people who expressed interest in getting a plot at the garden on Caribou Road on Corner Brook’s west side when it was first announced by the Western Environment Centre. The location is practically in her backyard, as she lives just around the corner.
The garden is one of two started through a partnership between the the Western Environment Centre and the City of Corner Brook. The other is located in the townsite area between the East Valley Road playground and Reid Street. A third garden planned for Bartlett’s Avenue and Connors Road has been put on hold.
The project is being partly funded by a $20,000 grant from the federal government’s local food infrastructure fund, with in-kind contributions from the Western Environment Centre and the city.
Lyver found out on June 8 she was successful in getting a plot. She started planting — a combination of seeds and seedlings — around the third week of June. Her box is filled with tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, potatoes, corn, lettuce, radishes, Brussel sprouts, herbs and cucumbers.
Her only thought as she got started was, I just hope this grows, she said.
She says they haven't been doing any great amount of work, but whatever they’re doing is working.
The rain last week helped a lot with the watering, and there were two days when she didn’t get over to the garden.
“And when I went back the growth was just crazy.”
Some of the plants were up over the sides of the box, she said.
“I really enjoy it. I really enjoy watching (it go) from nothing, just filling the box with soil to every day it’s exciting to see how much growth there is. I really do enjoy seeing the actual growth and you can see big changes daily.”
She’s also enjoying getting to interact with her fellow gardeners. As she goes at different times of the day, she meets different people.
She’s also happy Joel is showing interest in the garden.
He likes the watering and said he doesn’t consider it a chore. He especially wants to try the chocolate sprinkles tomatoes they’re growing.
“I’m most excited about seeing them grow because I want to eat them,” he said.
Matching the beds with enthusiastic gardeners like the Lyvers was no trouble for Katie Temple.
“They were immediately filled,” said Temple, the executive director of the Western Environment Centre. “I think people are pretty keen.”
There was so much interest that she has encouraged people to join the organization’s email list to try for a spot next year, as some turnover always occurs.
The original plan was to put 10 raised garden beds in the three locations, but with so much interest in the Caribou Road and Reid Street sites, it was decided to put the Curling location on hold. The two active sites have 15 raised beds each.
“There is still a plan for Curling, but we just don’t know exactly when,” Temple said.
Depending on the budget and time, the centre may look at getting the Curling site ready in the fall and open registration for the beds next spring, she said.
Temple said the raised beds give the group more flexibility when it comes to choosing garden locations.
“Raised beds sometimes can dry out a little quicker, so there’s pros and cons when it comes to gardening itself. But sometimes there’s also the benefit that there’s less pests and less weeds.”
The beds were all filled with a soil mix that is weed-free. The soil and a lot of the seeds and seedlings planted were provided through the grant.
Temple is still working on getting the water sources at the sites, with plans to install eavestroughs on the sheds there to collect rainwater in barrels. Until then, people are bringing their own water, and the city has been helping by watering the gardens at night.
Other than some people taking the soil meant for the gardens, things have been going smoothly, Temple said.
“But people taking a few buckets here and there, I’m not going to get too worried.”
She said a lot of the people with plots live near the gardens, and area residents are watching over them.
