Heartland Beautification Committee announced their recent grant for improvements to their Central Community Garden. The announcement was held on Aug. 27 with representatives of Stettler Town Council, Stettler Home Hardware and Grey is Green.
Committee Chairperson Grace Fix gave a summary of the grant and what it would be put towards. They had recently decided to install 10 raised garden beds in a portion of their Central Garden which sits between the Agricultural Grounds and the school Complex.
Fix explained that the soil at the garden isn’t the best and the raised beds would allow them to put in better soil. Other reasons they were experimenting with raised beds were for those who may have mobility issues, as well as potential lot renters who have never gardened before and wanted to start small.
After the beds were purchased and installed, the Beautification Committee were able to apply for the Scott’s Grow for Good grant. The $2,500.00 grant is made available across the country, but only 5 are given out.
Photos and videos of the announcement and the project will then be submitted for a chance to win another $2,500.00 grant from Scott’s. The grant is given out in two ways. Partially in cash, and the rest in covering the cost of purchasing Scott’s products.
Fix then explained that Warren and Leslie Rowland, who own Stettler Home Hardware, also got involved with the project. They not only sold the product at cost, but they stored it over the winter until the beds were ready to be filled.
Fix then thanked members of the Town Council who were in attendance and for their continued support of their organization. She also extended thanks to the Town Parks department who helped maintain the garden area.
Coun. Wayne Smith spoke next, giving a history of his involvement with the Heartland Beautification Committee which saw him first join the committee when they were first building the community gardens. Wayne thanked the many volunteers who are involved in the community gardens which includes the renters who have plots, and others who answer the call for work bees when large labour projects are needed.
A representative of Scott’s was scheduled to be on hand for the announcement, but he had to cancel after falling sick.
Fix says that the Committee will be discussing possible expansion of the raised beds. This would include more at the Central Garden as well as the possibility of installing them at the other two gardens in town.
