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Red River bus stop gives something riders can chew on

THUNDER BAY -- Hungry transit riders catching a bus outside Eco Superior’s Red River Road headquarters won’t have long to wait for a healthy snack to take along.
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(Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- Hungry transit riders catching a bus outside Eco Superior’s Red River Road headquarters won’t have long to wait for a healthy snack to take along.

The city’s first edible bus stop is already growing and starting to blossom perched alongside the shelter, the Thunder Bay summer sun pushing the plants skyward.

Transit tomatoes, commuter cucumbers and bike rack berries are just three of the vegetables planted, that when fully grown will be free to passersby to snack upon.

Ellen Mortfield, executive director at Eco Superior, said the concept arose out of the organization’s work with the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy, which aims to make people more aware of locally grown food.

Also, agriculture is a skill that’s been lost by most Canadians, with grocery stores a hop, skip and a jump away for most, so it’s educational too, Mortfield said.

“We thought this was not only a good way of making people aware of what can be grown here in a small space right here in the city, but also to make it more attractive for transit users and pedestrians.”

Discussions were held with Thunder Bay Transit to ensure sightlines and other concerns weren’t going to be a problem when the plants are fully grown.

The growing conditions are ideal at the location, Mortfield added.

“There’s lots of sunlight so we can grow just about anything. Maintenance isn’t an issue. Our staff is looking after all the watering requirements,” she said.

The planter box was installed in late June.

Edible bus-stop gardens originally arose in 2012 in London, England in a few high-risk neighbourhoods.

They quickly caught on and can be found across the United Kingdom and in many North American communities.


 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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