Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

INUVIK
The executive director of the Inuvik Community Greenhouse is leaving after two seasons of weeding, organizing, growing and learning. Sheena Adams agreed to answer a few question from the Inuvik Drum.

Sheena Adams, executive director of the Inuvik Community Greenhouse is leaving her position as of Sept. 28. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

Inuvik Drum: How long have you been in Inuvik?

Adams: I spent two seasons in the greenhouse. I arrived April 2011.

ID: What first brought you here?

A: The job at the greenhouse and the desire to assist a non-profit society. My bonus was I got to see the North and learned how much I love it.

ID: What were some of the highlights of working at the community greenhouse?

A: Working with an excellent group of volunteers, supporting agriculture in the North, developing my proposal writing skills, working with (the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment) and Growing Forward, encouraging youth, developing a relationship with the homeless shelter and sharing yoga.

ID: You attended a community gardening conference in the United States, how was it?

A: Yes I attended the American Community Garden Society national conference (along with a board member) and presented about the greenhouse and Inuvik. It was an excellent experience – there are many community gardens doing wonderful projects out there.

ID: Any ideas from the conference that could be used in Inuvik?

A: A small idea was to plant up grocery carts with edibles and include them in the parade. A larger idea is to produce seeds ... and save them in the library. There was also tons of helpful information about the relationship of fresh nutritious food and the boundaries that affect the consumption and growth of produce and how to move beyond that.

Another important message was food security and that we are all gardening with less – less time, water, space, cheap oil, plant diversity and climate stability – and how community gardens can help improve that through food production, education and inspiration.

The message is clear all across North America. Community gardens are being used to grow food, health and relationships.

ID: What was the craziest thing you saw in your two years as director?

A: The greenhouse has been an active hub of activity. There is always somebody coming and going.

In the past two years, we have had over 2,500 volunteer hours documented and about 900 tourists.

Among all the hard work, there have been many funny experiences. I spent lots of time laughing, which is a good thing. What I really enjoyed watching was the competitions between gardeners such as the largest corn, sunflower or biggest beet.

Some of the other highlights were kids ladybug day, documentary making and meeting the prime minister and asking him to support agriculture in the North. Some funny crops grown included striped beets, purple and orange cauliflower, purple broccoli, red Brussels sprouts and blue potatoes. I love the personal touches plotters put on their plots, each sign or decoration adds to the whole experience.

Random acts of kindness also add to the experience. For example, a member bought 120 carnations and sent them to long-term care at the hospital – a very generous contribution that expanded the reach and breadth of the greenhouse in the Inuvik community.

ID: What's next for you?

A: I plan to go south and look after some things and prepare to come back to the Arctic in a different job capacity, I'm not sure what exactly that will be. I am also working on a gardening book that is due to come out in spring 2014.

ID: What are your hopes for the future of the greenhouse?

A: When I came up my goal was to take my 15 years of greenhouse management and six years related education to develop the community greenhouse and leave it with a solid base of financial, operational and structural plans.

I believe I have fulfilled that mandate and my hope is that the greenhouse continues to grow in these areas so that it can be sustainable and support the agricultural, community, tourism and plant service needs of Inuvik and the communities in the NWT.

I am particularly pleased that our financials are in order and we have raised enough money to purchase and deliver the material needed for a new roof, an idea that seemed unrealistic only six months ago.

I am very grateful for my time at the greenhouse and consider my relationship with it a success. It is a time I will hold dear to my heart and reflect on often. I am happy to have the past two seasons in my memory box.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.