Registration for Community Garden plots now underway

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Despite waking up to see snow on the ground this past Sunday, green thumbs are a itching to get going on the second year of the Rainy River Community Garden.
The lead organization for the RRCG is the Healthy Communities Coalition and they are currently taking names and numbers from interested persons in the garden.
Last year was the first for the RRCG and despite strong interest in it, there were some set backs. HCC chair Heidi Ivall said that, “We were faced with a tough season due to the large amounts of rain in June and that it was the first year for the garden.”
However, since that time HCC is working on getting the town of Rainy River to improve drainage to avoid the garden plots being flooded out. They have also had many loads of top soil, peat and compost added to the garden in hopes of improving the soil quality. “You just can’t expect to go from field to garden in one year. So it is a work in progress.”
With a mind to improving the soil and drainage, the committee is hoping all the plots will be full this year. There are 12 family plots and half of them have been spoken for already. There is a $20 seasonal fee per plot. Anyone wishing to utilize one of the plots can call Ivall at 852-3268 weekdays. Family plots are 20’X30’.
Ivall said a small garden tiller and some garden tools will be readily accessible to users of the community garden. She said there were some issues with accessibility to them last year. “This year when they register and pay they will receive a key.”
There are also raised garden beds for seniors. However, they are all spoken for at this time.
There is also one plot reserved for a Kids Garden Club run by the Best Start Hub. People interested in registering their kids should contact Nikki Blakeney at the Best Start Hub.
Even though it snowed on May 1st, Ivall is hopeful that Mother Nature will let things warm up in the next few weeks so that they can have their first day of community gardening on May 18th. “We will have a work bee, assign plots and review rules and regulations.”
From last year’s group some suggestions for spin-offs include an interest in storage techniques. “We have it on the radar to possibly teach some of these methods in the future,” said Ivall. Canning and freezing vegetables, just to name a couple.
Anyone can come and utilize a plot. “This is a healthy activity. It offers exercise and moves us towards local and sustainable healthy foods,” concluded Ivall.