Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre sowing and growing
The school yard at Pope Memorial Elementary in Bury was a hub of activity on Friday afternoon as students from the school helped teachers and local volunteers plant the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre’s (CLC) community garden.
“This is our first official year,” explained CLC coordinator Kim Fessenden. With the help of a grant, the CLC was able to build some raised beds and get a few things planted last year but got started a bit late, Fessenden said.
“This is our first official year. We’ve got water and electricity now,” she said.
Before planting began, the students, teachers and community members gathered at the edge of the property to plant a red maple tree in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
The students then made their way to the raised beds to plant a variety of vegetables donated by local organic farm La Ferme du Coq à l’âne.
“We had lots of extra,” said Frédéric Verville, from Coq à l’âne, happy to donate seeds and plants, and lend his expertise to the CLC garden.
In addition to the food beds, the students planted seeds in a wild flower patch to help sustain the local bee population.
At a third station, the students were each given a seed to grow a giant pumpkin.
Fessenden explained that the students will bring them home and continue growing them over the summer, and then hold a contest with the Magog, Farnham and St-laurent CLCS to see who was able to grow the largest pumpkin.
The municipality of Bury was also giving away free trees to locals and arranged the pick up to coincide with the planting of the CLC garden on Friday.
“We’re trying to get the community more involved,” Fessenden said. She was hoping to recruit community members coming to pick up a tree to sign up for a shift of weeding and watering duty during the summer.
When asked how the harvest will be distributed, Fessenden said there was no plan in place yet. The beds with leafy greens will be available for people throughout the summer.
Last year, the harvest was donated to a local seniors’ residence.
This year, Fessenden said the CLC will try to make use of some of the vegetables in the school. The bed of carrots will no doubt be a popular snack for the students, she said.