FAR held gardening workshop in Rock Creek
By Shara JJ Cooper
The West Boundary Sustainable Food and Resources (FAR) held their second workshop event on Friday at Freeman’s Farm Supply in Rock Creek. According to FAR president Vivien Browne, the event was busy, despite the rain, with people coming and going all day.
The main goal of the workshop was to share information about gardening and provide participants with tips and tools to improve their gardens. One example is square foot gardening, which helps gardeners get a continuous supply of food over the growing season.
They also sent home trays of seeds for the guests to take home as part of their sustainable food program.
Grant
FAR has also just recieved a grant for $25,000 from Seed to Table, a federal program, which they will use to provide resources and help educate people about organic gardening methods. The program’s slogan, according to Browne, is “Handing on the Knowledge.”
“We really just want to get people talking,” she said, adding that she will run into people at Freeman’s and other locations and happily talk to them about gardening.
FAR is officially announcing the grant money on May 3 at the farmer’s market grounds in Rock Creek. Member of Legislature (MLA) Linda Larson and a representative for Member of Parliament (MP) Alex Atamanenko will be there for the presentation.
Community Garden
Far is working on a new community garden in Rock Creek. They previously had a community garden that was on private property. The new garden will be located on public property at the old red school house in Rock Creek.
The garden plots will be set up on raised beds because the garden will be on a paved surface.
FAR
FAR is a relatively new organization in the West Boundary. They were previously known as the West Boundary food sharing group, but become official last year and just held their first annual general meeting.
Browne says the group has been successful so far but they are always looking for new members.
“We want everyone in the West Boundary to be a member,” she said, adding that they already have members that are as far as Grand Forks and Keremeos.
The group’s goal is to provide resources and information on all aspects of sustainable food. They are working on putting together a list where people can find out what is available locally and where they can get it from.
Another project is “Grow a Row” where individuals grow an extra row of food in their garden and give it to FAR for redistribution in the community at no cost.
For more information about FAR or to join the organization, call secretary Leda Fair from Teddy Bear Farms at 250-449-2639 or Browne at 250-528-7433.
