On Saturday September 27th from 10 to 2,  Halifax Diverse is inviting us to celebrate the Dartmouth Common.

It will be a day of food and fun plus a chance to learn about plans for Leighton Dillman Park to become the first community orchard in the municipality!

David Foster, Program Coordinator for Halifax Diverse, tells Hello Dartmouth readers a little about the organization and about Saturday’s event:

 

What is Halifax Diverse?

DF: Halifax Diverse is an environmental education program of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation Atlantic Chapter.

We focus on providing opportunities for a primarily urban population to learn about nature in their own communities, and increasingly, to give back to and steward green spaces.

What’s happening on the Dartmouth Common on Saturday?

DF: We are hosting a celebration of the Dartmouth Commons in Leighton Dillman Park. There will be food from local restaurants (Wooden Monkey, Big Life), music, entertainment for all ages, a park cleanup (hosted by Clean Foundation), and a big announcement about the future of the commons as the municipality’s first community orchard.

We know the big reveal is Saturday, but can you tell us a little bit about the fruit trees?

DF: In conjunction with the Dartmouth Community Garden Association, we are planning an assortment of fruit and nut trees and shrubs to be planted this fall, and in the future, in an ongoing effort to provide free, local food for the community of Dartmouth. The actual planting will be on an as-yet-to-be-determined date in October.

Why is this a good thing for our community?

DF: This is cause to celebrate not only because the Dartmouth Commons gets to pilot this exciting project, but because free fruit!! The product/produce of these plants will be free for the public to pick and is an excellent conversation starter around the topic of local food, food security, and more. Not to mention this site is a great place to gather with the Park Avenue Community Oven already serving to get people engaged in community building around and through food.

How can people get involved?

DF: People should attend the event this Saturday in order to learn more about the planting, who is a part of this exciting initiative, and how they can become involved in the project going forward.