2016

Project: Karen’s Place Community Garden

Bay St. George Women’s Shelter

This year’s grant covered the purchase of raised garden beds to create a vegetable garden in Karen’s Place, an affordable temporary housing unit in Stephenville. The vegetable garden, along with a series of food skill workshops, will give residents of the women’s shelter the ability to become food secure. Participants range in age from early twenties to mid-fifties, and a total of 38 women took part in the community garden over the spring, summer and fall.

Provided as well were four Food Skills Workshops where participants learned what to grow and when, how to prepare the soil, composting, and planting and maintaining the garden throughout the summer. Participants were also taught about preserving, canning and harvesting the crop from the community garden. They were also given the opportunity to prepare the food into healthy nutritious meals.

Karen’s Place is operated with the Bay St. George Status of Women Council.  The Bay St. George Status of Women Council services the southwest region of the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador and promotes equality, justice and peace for women and their families through support, education, research and advocacy. They are committed to improving the economic and social conditions of predominantly rural women.

Being part of the kitchen garden, I learned about garden safety and how to grow vegetables and herbs. I also had the chance to learn to cook vegetables in different ways that I would never think to try. Being a part of the garden got me outside and helped me to increase my physical activity. I hope to be involved again next year.” – Participant testimonial

“Learned that many hands make light work and to work as a group. Learned about what we can use around us, how to be more self-reliant, and not waste what we have.”- Participant testimonial

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