I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia checking out community gardens and meeting with the passionate folks growing food and supporting gardens. First stop was the Springhill Community Garden.
There were so many things that make this garden a lovely place to spend time. A beautiful welcome sign, composting station, colourful signs on the beds, a shelter from the rain and sun, not to mention the members that stopped by for a celebratory BBQ. It was clear to me that a lot of love had gone into this garden. One success factor for this garden is the coordinator’s committee bringing together time and resources from partnerships with the Ecology Action Centre, Cumberland Health Authority, and the town’s Recreation Centre, among others.
Next stop on the tour was Amherst, where we found two community gardens.
Last stop was at the Hillside Villa in River Hebert. Hope Harrison was kind enough to spend some time talking to us about her life on a farm and her work to grow food for herself and other residents of the Hillside Villa, a housing complex devoted half to the elderly and half to folks on income assistance.
She shared with us, what she called the “Cumberland Three”: local blueberry muffins made from local maple syrup as sweetener, and jam made with local peaches. A very tasty visit to say the least!
I was inspired by my adventure in Cumberland County. In one of the Amherst gardens I found this rock that says ‘HOPE’, with beautiful pink flowers bursting forth. It sums up how connecting with gardeners, farmers and organizers fills my heart with hope.
TTFN
Miranda Cobb, Community Food Researcher, The Our Food Project, contact me at: miranda at ecologyaction.ca