Community garden prepares for when papal site returns to spiritual roots

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 1, 2014

LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Snow is still clinging to the ground, but the Fort Simpson Community Garden Society is already preparing for the growing season.

The society held its annual general meeting April 15, which approximately 20 people attended. Alison Brown, the society's new president, is describing this as a year of transition for the garden.

The society is in the process of securing a new location for the community garden. Liidlii Kue First Nation allowed the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to establish the garden in 2011 at the papal site. The First Nation now wants the land returned to its original state so it can be used again as a spiritual site.

The society has asked for a one-year extension for this growing season while a new location is found and prepared. A survey is being conducted to ask the society's members what characteristics they want the new site to have, Brown said.

The society is looking forward to finding a location that will be good for gardening, but will also afford space to erect the gazebo and picnic tables owned by the group.

"We want to enhance the area and make it friendly for the public," Brown said.

The new site will be promoted as a community-use area, she said. Visitors, both locals and tourists, often stop by the current garden.

During its first three years, the garden and its membership grew steadily from about 3,000 square feet and 15 people to 6,000 square feet and 25 people over the course of a year. Last summer, the garden covered 7,500 square feet including 65 garden plots or boxes for 34 members.

It was a good year for the garden, with people experimenting with different plants including cantaloupe, eggplant and hot peppers, said Val Gendron, the former president and now vice-president. There was also success with garlic and a lot of potatoes from the communal plot.

"I like seeing people excited that they've actually grown something," Gendron said.

"They think that they've created a miracle."

For first-time gardeners or people who want to learn more, the society plans to host a variety of workshops throughout the summer. One of the benefits of the community garden is that members can look at what other people are growing and get ideas for things they could plant like celery, said Brown.

"I find it peaceful and relaxing to garden," she said.

The society is encouraging anyone who wants to give gardening a try, to come out and grow. The sale of memberships will start soon. People start working on their plot anytime after the May long weekend, said Gendron.

The other new members of the society's executive include Diane Harold as treasurer and Jackie Zinger as secretary.