Have you considered - ?
26 September
Having added, a few months ago, the concept of occasional “Offshoots and Byways” to the newsletter I realised that I have not led you down any of the promised Os and Bs since. Time to remedy the situation with a variant on the gardening theme, albeit not one associated with native plants and pollination. I hope you will find something of interest, perhaps inspiration. Offshoot Friday 🤓
There are also some Blue Wood Asters at the foot of the post - found whilst out walking in the rain
A Community Project Helping Others - Sowing an Idea
Many migrant birds have departed, leaving a few stragglers. Peak autumn tree color is still a week or two away, so I’ve included this. I’m confident that those interested in my usual stuff will appreciate it. It’s not about wildlife or native plant gardening and will only appear once.
There are too many people in the modern world who are living in food poverty and who need food banks to help them get through their days. Not that long ago there were just a few food banks here or there, but now there seem to be dozens and dozens in every city and town - over a half dozen within a quarter hour of where I live in a pretty affluant part of a major city. On the whole, the public do support them with cash donations, buying a few extra cans of beans at the supermarket and so on. People who run food banks tell us (I will say who “us” is in a moment) that they can offer people canned and dried foods with a long shelf life while often finding it harder to reliably supply really fresh food. That is despite them getting some donated bulk unsold, end of day, items from the big stores. Thus, they will welcome anything green and healthy that comes their way.
Which is where “The Garden at Fritz” comes into play.
The Garden at Fritz, a thriving non-profit garden and orchard in my small town on Montreal island, has been in operation for twelve years. Its passionate volunteers, That’s the “us” I mentioned above, cultivate fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and donate them to food banks. We have also planted a small orchard with plums, cherries, apples, and peaches. Beyond growing produce, we’re sowing seeds of change, hope, and sustainability.
The volunteers do not take any of the produce for themselves.
The garden is in a corner of a public park that a dozen years ago the town council, with exceptional foresight, handed over to our group to manage. Not only that, but they have supported us with annual grants which supplement public donations.
Our mission was recently stated by one of the organizers, as:
Alleviating Food Insecurity: We recognize the pressing issue of food insecurity. Our primary mission is to fight hunger by providing fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to those in need. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has access to nutritious, wholesome produce.
Nurturing a Greener Ecosystem: We believe in the interconnectedness of all life. To this end, we’re not only cultivating food but also creating a greener ecosystem. Through the preservation of native plants and trees, we aim to foster a healthy wildlife habitat. Additionally, we’re actively reducing our community’s ecological footprint by offering eco-friendly solutions such as composting and recycling to our neighbours.
Building a Strong, Inclusive Community: Garden at Fritz is more than just a garden; it’s a thriving community hub. We’re dedicated to fostering unity among people from diverse backgrounds. Through collaborative work parties and enlightening educational workshops, we provide a space for individuals to come together, work alongside one another, and learn from each other. Together, we’re nurturing a strong, healthy community.
And the point of my writing about this?
… that there is a widespread need for the actions that groups like the Garden at Fritz can offer. Here we have found a core group of volunteers. Mostly grey-haired like me, it has to be said. There is nothing special about the people of Baie-D’Urfé … what we do is something others could do too, should they be interested.
The biggest challenge for a community group planning such an activity is finding land. Consider asking your council, as our original founders did, and if they’re unhelpful, you can appeal to the wider community. Look for farmers with unused field corners, schools with unused land, or local employers with mown grass outside their buildings that would let it be used, gaining public recognition and brownie points.
The people in need and the food banks that serve them will welcome your contributions.
Interested?
If anyone is interested, I and our group, would be happy to share experiences and help you plan your project.
I will be back to normal wildlife topics and programming from the next post - probably Sunday.
A few years ago the garden was visited by a local TV station … since then the appearance and the productivity of the garden has markedly improved but you will get an idea of what can be done. Last year we donated over 6000lbs weight of fresh produce, with a retail value in excess of $20,000
https://globalnews.ca/news/8060772/garden-at-fritz-food-bank-harvest/
Want to know more? Get in touch
Something whilst walking
Wild Blue Wood Asters - enjoyed on a damp and dismally rainy morning earlier in the week. Damp and dismal is not fun to walk in but on the other hand the light it comes with is perfect for small flowers like these. One of my favourite flowers at the end of summer … a great favorite of the bees and their friends also.
Wonderful article on your community garden. Out west we have some community gardens that give out plots but your harvesting and donating idea goes beyond that. It is sad to see that food insecurity is on the rise.
All for community gardens. Especially ones that include fruit trees! One thing that bothers me about Fritz's garden is all of that bare unloved ground. Any type of ground cover would help to keep it healthy and perhaps be ready for crop rotation. It also helps maintain soil moisture which has become an issue for some areas.