CARSTAIRS - The Town of Carstairs community garden was very well used this past growing season, with the produce gathered helping many local families, council heard.
The town-owned community garden is located west of 13th Avenue and north of the cemetery. Plots are available for a small fee from late May to October.
This year a total of 75 individuals and families booked a total of 194 plots, each 10 feet by 10 feet in size.
“Overall the gardeners did a great job of caring for their plots, and it was good to see them sharing ideas and helping each other out,” Neil Carleton, a member of the Carstairs community garden management team, said in a letter received by town council on Nov. 12.
“We could see a huge amount of produce being harvested as the weeks went by, making a real difference for families’ grocery bills, including our own.”
In the letter, the management team commended the town for providing valuable support and encouragement to gardeners making use of the garden in 2024.
The town provides water for the gardeners, as well as a utility shed for the storage of equipment used by the gardeners.
“We especially appreciate the hard work Corrine Fox and the operations crew have invested in the community gardens once again,” he said.
Carleton said town staff supported gardeners during 2024 in a number of ways, including the following:
• The town office staff received the plot registrations and passed the rental fees on to the management team.
• The operations crew removed sod from an expansion area on the south and west sides of the garden, making 45 new plots available for gardeners who had been on a wait-list from 2023.
• The operations crew kept a close eye on the water tank and refilled it whenever that was needed. This was especially appreciated during some hot, dry weeks.
• Having a portable toilet available over the summer, as well as three additional benches for seating around the garden.
“So let me say again how grateful we are to the Town of Carstairs for your support for this great feature of our community,” he said.
Mayor Lance Colby told the Albertan the garden is a great community asset used by many families and individuals.
“It is very well used and always full,” said Colby.
Council received the management team’s letter as information.
