County asked to grow Community Gardens

Council members will be asked to consider the possibility of Community Gardens in the County, following a presentation at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

A presentation by Veronica Catry, chairperson of the Health Communities Partnership, promoted the value of healthy, fresh, affordable food growing in green and underused spaces in the County.

Catry is asking the County to establish municipal support and policies to encourage municipal gardens, identify appropriate locations and build partnerships to share resources.

She notes the project would increase community pride, physical activity, social interaction, local food security and be a focal point for creating and sharing knowledge.

Next steps involve the participation of County groups such as Slow Food Prince Edward County, Food Not Bombs, Bee Friendly, Vital Signs and the Community Foundation.

One in nine households can’t afford real cost of eating well

In Prince Edward County, there are some programs and services already under way including:

The Hub Family and Child Care Centre – Healthy Food Healthy Families Programs for young parents and children to gain knowledge about nutritious food purchasing, preparation and storage. The program is offered monthly and every family takes home a Good Food Box.
The Hub also offers a Good Baby Box program to assist families to stretch their food dollar, reduce costs and meet needs of infants and toddlers.

The Children’s Garden project was also created at The Hub to help build healthy eating habits with the children of Prince Edward County. Starting at a young age is key for building lifelong skills, along with hands on opportunities from planting to harvesting and eating the food.
For details on all these programs, and more visit:
The Hub Family and Child Care Centre
10 McFarland Court, Picton
Call 476-8142 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Food Not Bombs is a community building group that includes free meals and food sharing, crafts, family events and clothes swaps. Events are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, along with a special community meal and clothes swap the second Sunday of each month – at the Picton Town Hall, above the firehall, on Ross Street, Picton. Wednesday meals are from 5:30-7 p.m. Sunday all-day events begin with brunch from 11 a.m. to noon.For more information, or to get involved with FNB, e-mail: pec.foodnotbombs@gmail.com or like the page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FoodNotBombsPec