By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The dream of a community garden at the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres Wallaceburg site has come to fruition.
Literally.
Tall tomato plants, nearly ripe cucumbers and an assortment of herbs and other vegetables are growing in a collection of raised beds at the rear of the Dufferin Avenue building.
Executive director Sherri Saunders said the initiative has been on the agency’s wish list for some time.
“For many years, we’ve had this dream of having a community garden space within our centre,” Saunders said, noting the project was made possible thanks to $14,000 raised by the 2023 Chatham-Kent Charity Classic golf tournament.
“This is an agricultural community so this showcases the skills we possess as growers,” she said, adding the shared harvest will help those facing food insecurity.
The community garden serves several purposes. Not only does it provide fresh produce for the food insecure, its wheelchair accessible beds also offer learning experiences for youngsters, and therapeutic opportunities for the centres’ clients.
“We made sure it was accessible and we wanted to really showcase from seed all the way up to the produce it provides so there’s an opportunity for planting and gardening,” said health promoter Beth Kominek.
The beds were designed and built by Derwyn Armstrong and Larry Babcock.
“They worked with the team and took the ideas that percolated and then designed the actual layout of the garden,” Saunders explained. “They were made with love by those two gentlemen.”
A number of volunteers also stepped up to help with mulch and planting. A reservoir for water was donated by Lambton Kent Farm Implements. Serrka Farms and Glasshouse Nursery and Garden Centre donated plants, while All Seasons Nursery ran a garden information workshop.
According to Mallory Nowakowski, manager of clinical and client services, the CKCHC also worked with the Chatham-Kent Public Library, accepting seeds from its seed library. Mother and child patrons from the CKPL Mommy and Me reading program also came to the garden to learn.
