BRENDA SCHROEDER/Independent reporter
The official opening of the Stettler Community Garden was on May 27th.
In its second year – located on a public plot of land just north of the ag grounds -the garden itself is growing: this year approximately 4000 square feet have been added to it.
The evening saw many families and adults come out to plant the garden plots for the Stettler and District Food Bank. Seeds and materials were purchased from various Stettler businesses with the Jungle Farm of Innisfail donating some of the transplants used in the food bank plot and demonstration raised beds.
In between digging rows and sprinkling seeds, information and ideas around gardening were exchanged.
Some of the children had been to last year’s garden opening and were waiting all spring to come out and get another chance to drop potatoes and push beans into the ground.
As some Stettler residents strolled by, enjoying the evening, they came by to check out the garden plots and to view the seven raised beds that have been added to the garden. These two-foot high beds were constructed by the Wm. E. Hay High School shop class.
The help of the Grade 2 classes were also enlisted: they drew the colourful row markers that now brighten the food bank plot and demonstration raised beds.
A big congratulations goes out to the Stettler Community Gardens committee, a subcommittee of the Heartland Beautification committee, and all the gardeners who are making use of this public space to grow food and flowers which provide beauty and sustenance to our community.
If you’d like to donate your time, talents, creativity or something else you think would be useful, feel free to drop a note to stettlercommunitygardens@gmail.com