Springbrook's first community garden will have more than just plots for rent when it opens in May.According to Adrian Pidhirney, the Family and Community Support Services worker for Springbrook, there will be a community garden, neighbourhood plots and a learning garden.The neighbourhood plots that people can rent for personal use will be available for $25 for the larger sections and $15 for the smaller ones.“They're 10 by 20 (feet) plots and there's a few 10 by 10,” Pidhirney said. He said there are about 112 plots available for public use.“About 18 (are) spoken for right now,” Pidhirney said.In addition to the plots for rent, the garden will have a true community garden. Pidhirney said this community plot will be used to gather supplies for a harvest dinner at the end of the season. Leftover produce can be taken by the community members and the remainder will go to the foodbank.“It's just a way to get the community back involved,” Pidhirney said, noting Springbrook is largely a bedroom community. He's hoping volunteers will help take care of the community plot. Those renting individual plots will ideally donate some time to work in the community plot as well, he said.In addition to the community plot is the learning garden, which will be part of a youth program.“It's kind of tied into my summer program,” Pidhirney said. He said he'd like to get about a dozen youth aged 10 to 14 out, “helping them grow a garden from the beginning.”Pidhirney said he'd like the program to take the youth from planting the seeds right up to harvesting and learning how to preserve their crop. He would like to have guest speakers and community mentors be part of the program, which will start later this spring.“We're taking registration,” he said.Donations are being sought for seeds, gardening equipment and supplies for the community and learning gardens.For the rental plots, residents of Springbrook and Division 3 of Red Deer County will be prioritized for signing up but other area residents are welcome to sign up.“It's huge,” Pidhirney said of the size of area.The gardens will be located in Springbrook just behind the firehall and Pidhirney's plans include having a place for the community to gather and relax there.“We're hoping to have a picnic area too,” Pidhirney said.The grand opening of the garden will be on May 16 but Pidhirney is looking for some community involvement before that. There's a “work weekend” May 5 and 6 where the area will be cleaned up and prepped for the gardens that volunteers are wanted for.The steering committee also needs members. Pidhirney said the next meeting is April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Springbrook firehall.Payments for plots will be taken after April 17. To register for a program, rent a plot, become a volunteer or to get more information, call Pidhirney at 403-350-9533.
