Reflections From the Ladner Community Garden

Here it is the end of 2011 and a new year is about to begin. We had a great year in the new Ladner Community Garden. In January of 2011 my friend, Michelle and I talked about the need for a community garden in Ladner. All you had to do was get two passionate gardeners together and the vision appeared. We knew what we wanted so we started talking about it with other gardeners. Then we had to find the land for a community garden. After lots of driving around looking at potential sites, we approached the Corporation of Delta. We met with them and they seemed very excited about the garden We were ecstatic to say the least. They offered us two parks to choose from and we couldn't contain our excitement.



So in May of 2011 after much paperwork we built the garden.



We couldn't have done it without all the volunteers who came out in full force to lend a hand wherever they could. It was a fun time and a new community within a community was built. Friendships were made and we all learned from each other over the next few months.



On June 18 we had our official opening with Mayor Lois Jackson. Its was fun despite the rainy day. We had over forty brand new gardeners who all harvested vegetables from their allotment gardens this summer.



In September we had a class of grade three children come to learn at the garden. They had never harvested potatoes before!



We developed a garden to grow food for the food bank. This produced lots of fresh nutritious food for people who needed it.



What are our plans for 2012?



The grade three class is returning in the spring to learn how to grow food and flowers. We will be erecting a new shade structure for the neighbours to enjoy. We want the community garden to be a stopping place , to bring your coffee and chat with your neighbours and check out the gardens. We also hope to put in a new fruit and herb garden in the spring.



Not only do we have ideas and vision for our Ladner Community Garden, we want to have even more fun.
On January 28, 2012 we are holding our first Seedy Saturday at the Ladner Baptist church. If you don't know what a Seedy Saturday is click here. This is a fundraiser for the community garden so we can purchase plants for our new herb and fruit garden.



We also hope to have more community events, perhaps a plant sale, a scarecrow day, a garden tour or a pumpkin growing contest. Imagine a scarecrow building day where you can bring your family to build a scarecrow for the garden. Its so much fun!
Thanks to all our sponsors and the wonderful community we live in for supporting the Ladner Community Garden this year. Thanks goes out to the board of directors who have always been there. To Lynn, Sharon, Don and Michelle, it was a blast and it can only get better.
Happy New Year from the Ladner Community Garden. May all your gardens flourish and your bounty be full.

For info about the garden and Seedy Saturday email deltagardener@dccnet.com