Community Gardens spring back to life
Horticultural Society's intervention saves gardens for 2023
After serving the needs of the community for almost 30 years, the Fort St. John Community Gardens were nearly uprooted at the end of May, but the last-minute intervention of the North Peace Horticultural Society has saved the gardens. For this growing season, at least.
The clean-up day on Saturday was a success, with over a third of the planting beds made ready for renters. Approximately 20 people came out to help clean and weed the gardens, some from the Horticultural Society, some people interetested in renting plots, and some were simply members of the Fort St. John community who wanted to lend a hand. In addition, in the last week, approximately 15 of the 50 beds have been rented.
Horticultural Society president, Michele Jeffers said that this was a good number, considering that they’re starting so late in the season. But it’s not too late to plant. The Society will be planting the brown boxes in the gardens this week, likely with vegetable starts and late season seeds.
Anyone who wants to rent a garden bed for the 2023 season can still do so, and it’s not too late to start a good crop. Vegetable seedlings are a great way to go, for plants such as broccoli, squash and cucumber. Other veggies, such as lettuce, chard, beans and peas can still be planted, as seeds, and be ready to harvest before the frost. There is still plenty of time for potatoes as well.
However, the Horticultural Society’s take over of the gardens is a stop-gap measure, said Jeffers. “We hope that another organisation will take it over - we’re already stretched with our other projects, but we don’t want to see the gardens let go.”
Anyone interested in renting a garden box at the Community Gardens can contact the Society by email nphortsociety@gmail.com - the fee is $30 for the first box and $15 for each additional box. If you rented in 2022, include your previous box numbers in your email and the Society can try to match renters with their old plots.