Ponoka’s Community Garden has closed for another year but not before its members took some time to visit and take care of some much needed end of the season clean up. ,
Members of the community garden took time Saturday, Oct. 18 to make the space ready for next year. The plot is located near the start of the Diamond Willow Trail and is hosted by Ponoka’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) since 2011. Gardeners tended the weeds and emptied the large water tank in the centre of the space.
Since 2011, FCSS has opened more than 40 plots for gardeners who need a place to plant their own fruits and vegetables, explained Kerry Robideau, program co-ordinator. She says some gardeners even rent more than one plot to take care of over the summer. “It’s a great group of people that come and garden in here.”
The small group of gardeners are almost like a second family and many ended up chatting and visiting over the summer months while tending their space, she explained.
“Everyone’s always willing to help,” Robideau added.
Among the items grown were potatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, squash and other vegetables plus there were small sections of the community garden that were full of herbs, donated by greenhouses in the area, and were available to the gardeners.
Sheila Lanz rented a plot in the community garden as she has no space on her own yard. She enjoyed the camaraderie as much as planting her own vegetables. Lanz says there were times she visited with other gardeners almost more than the time it took to care for her plants. “I’ve met people that I never would have met.”
A potluck was hosted after the end of the cleanup with everyone discussing ideas for next year.