Community garden made permanent

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

Despite some citizen opposition at the get-go, a successful summer and an enthusiastic participation rate have guaranteed Ste. Anne de Bellevue’s community garden project another season.

The garden pilot project got underway in May, when 24 three-by-five metre plots were laid over the site of an old wading pool in Godin Park. Citizens were initially worried about locating the community garden in a public park near homes, because it could be subject to vandalism and because it would take away play place from children. But after four months with no vandalism incidents

or stolen vegetables, council voted to make the project permanent at last week’s council meeting.

“It was a bit controversial, but there was a big turnout...And it turns out it has been quite a success,” said Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Bill Tierney. “From my point of view, it’s great. These things are very sociable. They’re places people meet and kids hang out. It’s especially good for people living in apartments, and there are a lot of apartments in Ste. Anne’s.”

Now that it will be a permanent fixture, the community gardeners will need to form an association and come up with official rules, explained environment committee president Michel Couillard. The committee had been trying to start a community garden project for about seven years before it became a reality, but were slowed down because of the municipal mergers in 2002 and subsequent demergers in 2006. According to Couillard, the work and wait have paid off.

“I think we’ve proven that a community garden is something the citizens wanted,” he said. “It’s unbelievable the way it looks now. The citizens who were opposed in the beginning I think saw that it was not a menace.”

Due to windy conditions and large trees that shade her property, France Bernier decided to try out a plot in the Godin Park garden. After sowing the seeds and tending her spot all summer long, Bernier has had an abundance of fresh vegetables, including various types of tomatoes and peas, cucumbers, beans, peppers, and carrots.

“It’s been a while since we’ve bought vegetables at the grocery store. But, for me, it wasn’t so much about saving money. It’s more the pleasure of working with the earth and harvesting what we grow. And, you know where your food is coming from,” she said, adding she is a person who “loves to garden and eat well.”

Couillard said the committee will now look at how many of this year’s gardeners will be back next season, as well as how many others are interested in having a space in the community garden. While expanding the garden is a potential possibility

if demand becomes high, Couillard explained they would have to look at other space options.

“I don’t think the space there (in Godin Park) would allow us to double it without removing playground area,” he said, adding there are no plans to fence in the current space, because fences are unattractive and do not do much to prevent vandalism. “And we have no evidence it was vandalized, or that any vegetables were stolen. This is something that says a lot about the value of this community.”

Erwin Hamilton, who lives near Godin Park, initially had his qualms about the community garden, but has since changed his mind. He hopes that, along with vegetables, the gardeners will plant flowers to beautify the spot.

“It’s been so popular that everybody’s enjoying it; even the kids. It’s been a joy to the community,” he said.쇓