THUNDER BAY — The community garden at Confederation College has officially reopened for the first time since the pandemic thanks to community partners, school officials say.
The new garden updates are thanks to a combined total of $16,900 in grants from local organizations, the college announced in a media release issued Monday.
“Rebuilding the garden gave us the chance to look at how it could serve even more people,” Robyn Gillespie, the college's manager of applied research and sustainability, was quoted as saying in the release.
The college said the following organizations granted money towards the garden:
- The City of Thunder Bay’s Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee contributed $5,000 for new planters for the new children’s garden
- TD Friends of the Environment Foundation contributed $5,400 to support the planting of fruit trees, berry bushes and other perennial crops
- Nature’s Path Organic Foods contributed $6,500 to enhance the beehive area, support the children's garden and expand food-growing capacity throughout the space.
The reimagined space brings together students, staff and community members while promoting local food production, wellness and sustainable practices, the college said, adding it also offers hands-on learning opportunities, increased access to fresh produce and a collaborative environment for people of all experience levels.
“By adding accessible planters, student plots and plans to install educational features like the children’s garden, we’re growing more than food," Gillespie was quoted as saying. "We’re providing student educational experiences, building skills, strengthening partnerships and improving access to sustainable food sources.”
Those improvements, also including a seed library, will provide students attending the college with the opportunities to gain educational experiences by building and finishing a new shed and raised bed planters.
The revitalized garden also help align it with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
Community members, students and organizations can register for garden plots by visiting confederationcollege.ca/department/sustainability/community-garden.
