Experienced green thumbs as well as budding gardeners have an opportunity to practise their skills ó or learn new ones ó at the Sundre Community Garden.
There are 28 plots at the garden, which was completed three years ago. The project was made possible through collaboration with the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre as well as grant funding from New Horizons for Seniors Program, a federal government initiative, and Alberta Health Services' Thrive for Wellness Program, said Cindy Orr, a member of the volunteer-driven Sundre Community Garden committee.
As of last week, about 90 per cent of the plots had already been rented out for the season, she said.
"We don't have many left," she said during a phone interview with the Round Up.
Orr said the $25 fee to rent a plot covers the cost of water for the season and also provides a fenced in and manicured property, which is located near the Sundre hospital.
Courtesy of contributions from local companies, which included a storage shed from Sundre Home Hardware the first year the garden was established followed by a donation of water last year from Millard Trucking, the committee has not only been able to establish a modest reserve for a rainy day but it was also able to purchase a taller protective chain link vinyl coated fence ó an improvement over more modest fencing that was originally planned for, she said.
The committee anticipates at some point potentially allocating those reserves towards updating the garden, adding shrubs, hauling in new dirt, or perhaps repairing lumber for the planters. Although expanding the site is not outside the realm of possibility ó the hospital has even already offered more space on its grounds if needed ó such a course of action would have to be justified by a clear demand, she said.
"Expanding means more maintenance," which translates to a greater demand on the already limited number of hours volunteers can offer, she said.
Several members of the Sundre Garden Club have partnered up to help with the Sundre Community Garden, and are available to offer their expertise. People who have rented out plots generally come out in the evenings to tend to their planters and are receptive to questions, she said, adding the main resource available to aspiring green thumbs is the expertise of veteran gardeners.
For those who have thought about trying to grow a garden but have perhaps been intimidated by a lack of knowledge, the Sundre Garden Club's president Terry Nelson encourages them to just rent a plot and give it a shot.
"It's really, really very simple, and it's miraculous what happens!" she said.
Gardening is also a family-friendly activity that offers children the opportunity to see a seed germinate and grow. Plus, there is no comparing a vegetable grown fresh from a garden with those purchased at a grocery store, she said.
The club started its season in April, and as of last week had 22 people involved. There are usually about 35-40 members in an average season. Anyone wanting to join can contact Nelson at 403-638-4056. Alternatively, club secretary Judy Madsen can be reached at 403-638-5638.
Application forms are available online at www.mygnp.org/communitygarden, and people who sign up can volunteer information such as their level of experience in gardening, she said, adding that experienced gardeners can volunteer to mentor aspiring green thumbs.
