Manitouwadge Community Garden
Manitouwadge Community Memorial Garden
November 2008 a Use Agreement for the vacant property at the corner of Wenonah Ave. and Shingwauk Ave. was signed with the Township for ‘Proposed Community Memorial Garden for vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees’; regrettably the project did not happen.
In 2009 efforts were made to launch the project once again but did not progress as planned
May 6th, 2010 a Video Conference was held thanks to Shirley Sassto-Stopyra, Thunder Bay District Health Unit Manitouwadge. The presentation was given by Katherine Swartz-Mendes of the Thunder Bay Office joined by Sarah Paris of the Nipigon Office where a Community Vegetable Garden has been progressing for a few years. Mostly young families participate in that garden. Marlene Turner and Leonard Stopyra attended this conference to determine the future of the Manitouwadge Community Garden.
SPRING 2010 THINGS ARE MOVING!
The Manitouwadge Community Garden is NOW proceeding and needs your input. Stage One: Two veggie boxes have been made with four more to follow. The flower garden is a dream of the future. This is a learning project and a great opportunity for:
- Experienced or new gardeners;
- Children of any age, adults and seniors;
- People of any physical ability levels;
- Parents searching for a hobby they can share with their children;
- People with any budget (seeds are available for those who are not in a position to purchase some themselves)
If you would like to plant a row of seeds or veggie plants or assist with building of boxes, please phone Marlene 826-3872 to participate.
The remaining boxes may not be available for a while yet, but we planned on starting small and working it out together with those interested. Some tomato plants have been donated for when the frost is over.
If you do have leftover seeds from your planting they would be appreciated.
Potatoes will not be planted but KALE PLANTS are waiting for eager hands to get them in the ground. These are on every healthy eating guide and grow through the snow; they are great sliced in salads with different lettuces, boiled like spinach or dried. We expect they will grow well in the topsoil donated by our new partner the Manitouwadge Conservation Club.
As suggested at the video conference there are no end of ways we can share expertise with others. In Nipigon they held a strawberry jam making workshop and certainly down the road excess from the garden can be donated to the local Foodbank.
This is a Community Garden and there will be no fencing but shrubs in the future. Elaine Card made us a sign last year; this was retreived after being vandalized and we hope that will be the last of any such issues in the garden.
There are plans for a stone pathway; when flat stones can be found, to continue the shortcut through the garden. This is Township property and nothing should be removed or damaged as this would result in criminal charges.
There is no water on the property but a tank will be donated in the near future for rain water – volunteers will be neede for this..
Those who become involved will have a voice in deteremining regulations for the garden, its maintenance and use. It is hoped that the Flower Garden, with sufficient donations, be moving forward by summer 2011.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, this is a Community Garden and should continue its development with as many Manitouwadge residents as possible involved.
Comments left here will be forwarded to organizer Marlene Turner, Community Garden Volunteer.
