Wawa-news.com You can't hear the 'big picture'!
Confederation College has relaunched its Community Garden, a reimagined space that brings together students, staff and community members to promote local food production, wellness and sustainable practices. Originally opened in 2013, the garden was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, following a significant redevelopment, the space is once again open and thriving.
The revitalized garden supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being. It offers hands-on learning opportunities, increased access to fresh produce and a collaborative environment for people of all experience levels.
“Rebuilding the garden gave us the chance to look at how it could serve even more people,” said Robyn Gillespie, Manager of Applied Research and Sustainability. “By adding accessible planters, student plots and plans to install educational features like the Children’s Garden, we’re growing more than food. We’re providing student educational experiences, building skills, strengthening partnerships and improving access to sustainable food sources.”
The new range of garden plot options, accessible features, seed library, and expanded planting areas have provided opportunities for Confederation College students to gain educational experiences by building and finishing a new shed and raised bed planters. Fruit trees, perennial gardens, and a beehive area have also been added to support biodiversity and long-term sustainability. The garden’s development has been supported by funding from the City of Thunder Bay’s Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Nature’s Path Organic Foods through its Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward program.
The redevelopment has been supported by several key grants. The City of Thunder Bay’s Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee provided $5,000 for the soon to be built and installed planters for the new Children’s Garden. TD Friends of the Environment Foundation contributed $5,400 to support the planting of fruit trees, berry bushes and other perennial crops. An additional $6,500 from Nature’s Path Organic Foods, through its Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward program, is being used to enhance the beehive area, support the Children’s Garden and expand food-growing capacity throughout the space.
Community members, students and organizations can register for garden plots by visiting confederationcollege.ca/department/sustainability/community-garden.
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