What Exactly Is It We’re Growing Here? - May 27, 2021
I’ve been given a promotion!
I’m no longer just a person planting one gardening box for hubs and me and two gardening boxes for seniors at Grace-Linwell Retirement Community.
I am now THE GRACE DIVERSITY GARDEN AMBASSADOR! OK, I asked to be this. And if a person is willing to do work for free and expand on a current mission, let them call themselves anything they want! 😊
There are currently 9 gardening boxes at Grace Mennonite Church on Niagara St. in St. Catharines. Pastor Doug Schulz got these boxes going as part of Bridge of Hope – an interfaith group that helps to bring refugees to our area and assists them with becoming part of the community. Growing loved foods in a garden, since you very likely live in an apartment, was part of that.
Over time a few more boxes became available. These were given to folks at the retirement community who loved to garden. Still a few boxes were left, so Laur and I – as members of Grace church – asked for one. Fair enough. We are seniors and we live in an apartment.
Still two more available. Hmm… I offered to grow veggies in these for folks at Grace-Linwell and Grace Church who simply cannot garden anymore but would welcome some fresh produce. With one proviso. I wanted it to be a “stone soup” garden – one where folks donated veggies. A community project. Actual seedlings or money to buy them. And folks have been generous. As of today the two boxes are pretty much full.
There are a few challenges – other than the fact I have no idea what I’m doing. The boxes don’t get a lot of sun and the wood is starting to crumble. But – eureka – the City of St. Catharines has a Community Gardens Funding Program. This year it will provide matching funds for the capital costs of community gardens in St. Catharines. All I have to do is written a successful application. I am proposing three new boxes and repair of the existing boxes. Gah! My task until June 16 when the application is due!
*****
I don’t know if we’ll grow anything but well-nourished weeds and insects and animals with a taste for cayenne pepper (which is supposed to be a natural insecticide and small mammal discourager). I consider this first year a learning experience. And not just for us. We bring our 3 year old grandson, Jasper, with us – to the plant nursery store to pick out seedlings – and to the gardens – to help us plant.
What a hoot! The child is at an age where he cannot stand to get dirt on his hands – even with his Paws Patrol gardening gloves. But he does love to water – by hose or by can. We’ve even put in three mini gardens at his house – it’s an experiment. There are a) seedling veggies growing in earth bags, b) seedling veggies growing in the ground, and c) plants that have been started from seeds. (I’m not too optimistic about c.)
This must seem like a fool’s errand. We can buy veggies so cheaply at the Costco Business Centre. A flat of perfect tomatoes for five dollars. Twenty pounds of potatoes for five dollars. Asparagus … well, you get the picture.
But our attempt at gardening really isn’t just about gardening. It’s a way to entertain Jasper, to entertain the seniors watching us fools, and to – hopefully – stave off dementia. At least for a few more years. Gardening – physical activity, really – has been shown to slow down the onset of dementia.
And should we get dementia – there is dementia in Laur’s family and in mine – gardening is supposed to be very helpful. In fact “Dementia Gardening” is now a thing, helping agitated elders feel calmer.
Mind you, should our bid to get the materials for extra gardening boxes, gardening box repair, and soil be accepted by the City, and Laur has to build them… I know one agitated elder who won’t be feeling calmer. 😊
(Explanation: I wanted to put grandkid Em’s face on one of the dandelions since Em’s Mom donated money for lots of plants. But Em doesn’t like having their face on Facebook. However, Ems loves Burger King. So…)
I’m no longer just a person planting one gardening box for hubs and me and two gardening boxes for seniors at Grace-Linwell Retirement Community.
I am now THE GRACE DIVERSITY GARDEN AMBASSADOR! OK, I asked to be this. And if a person is willing to do work for free and expand on a current mission, let them call themselves anything they want! 😊
There are currently 9 gardening boxes at Grace Mennonite Church on Niagara St. in St. Catharines. Pastor Doug Schulz got these boxes going as part of Bridge of Hope – an interfaith group that helps to bring refugees to our area and assists them with becoming part of the community. Growing loved foods in a garden, since you very likely live in an apartment, was part of that.
Over time a few more boxes became available. These were given to folks at the retirement community who loved to garden. Still a few boxes were left, so Laur and I – as members of Grace church – asked for one. Fair enough. We are seniors and we live in an apartment.
Still two more available. Hmm… I offered to grow veggies in these for folks at Grace-Linwell and Grace Church who simply cannot garden anymore but would welcome some fresh produce. With one proviso. I wanted it to be a “stone soup” garden – one where folks donated veggies. A community project. Actual seedlings or money to buy them. And folks have been generous. As of today the two boxes are pretty much full.
There are a few challenges – other than the fact I have no idea what I’m doing. The boxes don’t get a lot of sun and the wood is starting to crumble. But – eureka – the City of St. Catharines has a Community Gardens Funding Program. This year it will provide matching funds for the capital costs of community gardens in St. Catharines. All I have to do is written a successful application. I am proposing three new boxes and repair of the existing boxes. Gah! My task until June 16 when the application is due!
*****
I don’t know if we’ll grow anything but well-nourished weeds and insects and animals with a taste for cayenne pepper (which is supposed to be a natural insecticide and small mammal discourager). I consider this first year a learning experience. And not just for us. We bring our 3 year old grandson, Jasper, with us – to the plant nursery store to pick out seedlings – and to the gardens – to help us plant.
What a hoot! The child is at an age where he cannot stand to get dirt on his hands – even with his Paws Patrol gardening gloves. But he does love to water – by hose or by can. We’ve even put in three mini gardens at his house – it’s an experiment. There are a) seedling veggies growing in earth bags, b) seedling veggies growing in the ground, and c) plants that have been started from seeds. (I’m not too optimistic about c.)
This must seem like a fool’s errand. We can buy veggies so cheaply at the Costco Business Centre. A flat of perfect tomatoes for five dollars. Twenty pounds of potatoes for five dollars. Asparagus … well, you get the picture.
But our attempt at gardening really isn’t just about gardening. It’s a way to entertain Jasper, to entertain the seniors watching us fools, and to – hopefully – stave off dementia. At least for a few more years. Gardening – physical activity, really – has been shown to slow down the onset of dementia.
And should we get dementia – there is dementia in Laur’s family and in mine – gardening is supposed to be very helpful. In fact “Dementia Gardening” is now a thing, helping agitated elders feel calmer.
Mind you, should our bid to get the materials for extra gardening boxes, gardening box repair, and soil be accepted by the City, and Laur has to build them… I know one agitated elder who won’t be feeling calmer. 😊
(Explanation: I wanted to put grandkid Em’s face on one of the dandelions since Em’s Mom donated money for lots of plants. But Em doesn’t like having their face on Facebook. However, Ems loves Burger King. So…)