SUNDRE – Although the Sundre Community Garden’s first work bee of the season was postponed on account of a rainstorm that swept through town, the weather on the rescheduled date offered perfect conditions to get things started.
A group of approximately one dozen greenthumbs were out in early May to turn soil and plant crops with some volunteers helping to fill up two brand new raised garden beds that brought the total number of plots up to 30. They were pretty much all spoken for.
As well, a new water tank that had been on the group’s wish list was brought in that morning to replace the aging 10-year-old unit that had begun leaking, said Renate de Bruijn, a program coordinator with the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Sundre Community Garden, which opened in 2015 and is situated immediately adjacent to the Myron Thompson Health Centre’s parking lot.
Plans are still being considered to celebrate the milestone with details to be announced when ready, said de Bruijn.
Among those who attended last week’s work bee were Sundre residents Kim and Diane Butts.
They rented their first garden bed in 2024, and this season expanded their operation by staking a claim on a second, planting a variety of produce such as onions, radishes, peas, cucumbers, basil, lettuce, potatoes and garlic even some that they put in the ground last year.
Residing at the Riverside RV Village in town, the couple appreciates the opportunity to have a fenced-in garden space to grow some plants.
“We can’t grow anything in our RV park because the deer eat everything,” said Kim.
