Edible garden program expanding
Links for Greener Learning awarded grant funding
A plan to build an outdoor classroom and kitchen behind historic Buchanan House to teach children about growing food is becoming a reality.
Links for Greener Learning has received a $140,200 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to put its ambitious plan for expanding its teaching garden program into action at the St. Catharinesowned property.
The not-for-profit organization hopes to have its insulated classroom constructed for the 2019 growing season so children can attend workshops with seating
and tables amid the property’s raised vegetable beds.
“They can come and they can see how to grow the food. They can touch, they can smell, they can taste it,” said executive director Yaneth Londono, Monday, explaining having an outdoor classroom will have a greater impact than visiting children in schools without gardens.
“It’s not the same thing when they can see things growing.”
Links for Greener Learning ran a pilot program behind Buchanan House at 360 Niagara St. during the 2017 growing season after receiving approval from city council to turn unused beds on the property into teaching gardens.
The organization constructed new vegetable and pollinator beds, installed a compost demonstration area and drew more than 100 children to summer workshops.
In October, city council agreed to allow Links for Greener Learning to lease the lands from the city for five years. The lease was required for the organization to be eligible for an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
Londono said the grant will help build the outdoor classroom, buy an outdoor kitchen, plant pollinators and add some safety features such as fencing.
She said the outdoor classroom will be a nice space to teach kids not just about gardening, but about cooking, healthy eating, recycling, composting and energy conservation.
The organization also received $10,000 from Wise Guys Charity and $10,000 from the city to expand its gardens. Twenty new raised beds will be built for this season.
Londono said the classroom won’t be ready until next season because the drawings have to be completed, approved by the city and constructed.
The plan is to have two types of gardens — one for teaching children and one for adults who want to learn more about edible gardens. “The workshops are going to be open to everyone,” Londono said, adding it’s not known yet who will sign up to take part.
Anyone interested in the programs can check the organization’s website for updates at linksforgreenerlearning.org or its Facebook page. The group is also looking for volunteers who can help maintain gardens and participate in workshops.
All food grown that isn’t used in workshops will be donated to the food bank.
Londono said it is hoped to begin the children and adult teaching workshops in June when the plants are growing.
The freezing rain this past weekend, though, hasn’t given much of a boost to gardeners itching to get their hands dirty.
“This weather is not giving us any time to grow anything,” Londono quipped. “There’s already a garden, but it’s not happening yet.”