Community Garden Starter Kit Program

gardens

As a proud supporter of local food initiatives,  we have created the Community Garden Starter Kit Program to respond to emerging needs and to foster healthy communities.

With generous donations from Kawartha Home Hardware and RBC, this season we were able to offer 10 starter kits and additional gardening supplies to 3 local schools and 4 organizations to help alleviate food insecurity.

 

Starter kits are available for schools in the City of Kawartha Lakes and for United Way funded agencies that are planning programs centred on growing food. A limited number of kits are available each year on a first come, first served basis.

Each kit includes:

  • Lumber and materials to construct one 4’ x 6’ x 6” high raised bed planter box
  • Assortment of seeds, or started plants (when available)
  • Straw
  • Resources and support to help you plan your garden should you require it.

Soil and pick-up are the responsibility of the recipient.

The first garden kit is free, and each additional kit is $25.00

Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to provide garden kits and/or garden support to the following recipients:

Schools
  • Woodville Elementary School (2014 & 2015)
  • King Albert Public School (2014 & 2015)
  • Fenelon Falls Secondary School (2015)
  • Dr. George Hall Public School (2014)
  • Alexandra Public School (2014)
Charitable Agencies 2015
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes 
  • CMHA (Harrison House)
  • CMHA (2 Hamilton St. House)
  • CMHA (Reach for Recovery)
  • Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes (Adult Day Centre, Lindsay)
  • Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes (Adult Day Centre, Fenelon Falls)
  • A Place Called Home

Garden Tales

The CMHA / Canadian Mental Health Association’s Harrison House is a transitional, eight-bed, co-ed rehabilitative housing program for individuals with a diagnosed mental illness. Residents have the opportunity to participate in social recreation and psycho-educational programming provided in the home, life skills coaching, as well as collaborate in household duties.

On Saturday June 6th, with the help of local volunteers, Harrison House was able to construct a garden starter kit provided through our program and plant broccoli and cucumbers. “We have significantly noticed inflation within our grocery stores as the cost of food continually rise.  We, as a house, are looking forward to our gardening endeavours this summer to help reduce the amount of money spent on fruit and vegetables and use the savings to purchase better quality meats.  The tenants at Harrison House are striving to eat healthy, however healthy eating comes with a cost. Many Thanks for supporting our gardening endeavours!”

Harrison House 3

 

King Albert Public School students are incredibly engaged budding gardeners.  Last year the United Way helped the school build one 4 x 6 raised bed garden and provided seeds. There was great interest from students from the grade two class it was designated for, as well as other children throughout the school who were curious and wanted to get involved. In fact, it was such a success that this year their teacher, Julie Montford, started a new “Green Thumbs Garden Club” for students in grades 1 to 5. These little seedlings are so enthusiastic about the garden that they are willing to give up one recess a week for the opportunity.

However, even with all this positive engagement the school lacked funding and needed help growing the project. The United Way connected with Frank Smith, a local Master Gardener and retired teacher to teach students about starting vegetable seeds indoors. We provided seeds, soil, and planters so that more children would be able to participate this year.

We were also delighted to host a garden party for KAPS students at our on-site community garden during their final week of school. Students helped us plant potatoes, beans, squash, and toured the garden while munching on Watermelon and fresh Ontario Strawberries.

Check out the King Albert story, which was featured in the Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition‘s June newsletter, “United Way Poverty to Prosperity-Community Garden Kit Program”.