Has your community group, non-profit or charity organization ever thought of starting a community garden?
From now until March 10, applications are being accepted by the City of St. Catharines for cost-share funding of community garden projects.
Approved projects will have 50 per cent their startup costs matched, addressing needs like lumber, soil, seeds, rain barrels, and tools.
At least 12 gardens have put down roots in St. Catharines as a result of the green initiative says Ilyse Norton, the city’s development horticultural technician.
Applications are presented to the city’s green advisory committee who will decide on what projects receive funding.
While some gardens are new, the funding also helps existing community gardens to continue growing.
Some of the gardens which have received funding from the initiative are the EI McCulley School Community Garden, the Queenston Neighbours garden within Centennial Community Gardens and the Scottlea Presbyterian Church community garden.
Food grown at community gardens encourages healthy food for personal consumption and provides fresh food for food banks, Norton says.
The gardens also help bring people together for an activity that benefits mental and physical well-being.
Last spring, community gardens were still able to run, allowing people to connect when they couldn’t in other ways.
Norton says they’re looking for projects which have people, ideas and half of their costs ready to go.
To learn more, visit: www.engageSTC.ca/community-gardens.
Jordan Snobelen is a reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative, which is funded by the Government of Canada.
