Press Release
The Citizens for Backus/AB are honoured to accept a grant of $3,500 from the Marshall N. Knudson Family Community Fund.
The funding will be used towards the Youth Art Garden at Backus to help plant and maintain it.
The grant will support the purchase of two compost bins, a worm compost bin, art supplies for more garden art projects, soil amendments, seeds, starts, mulch, and a permanent sign.
All of the supplies will allow for better growth in the garden and for improved gardening practices.
The Backus Youth Art garden began as a project initiated by the Backus Kids’ Club and educator Julie Talmage back in 2013 as a space for children to learn about natural processes through the act of growing their own food.
It has since developed into a space that not only contributes to the education of children in the Backus Summer Arts program and Alternative School, but also offers nutrition, beauty, and inspiration to the community at large.
“I think the youth have a lot to be proud of here,” said Summer Arts/Garden co-ordinator Ariana Daniel.
“They have truly created positive change.”
Last summer, the garden served as a regular contributor of fresh produce to the Community Cafe and Summer Food Program, an art space for local children in both the Summer Arts and College for Kids program, and a culinary/educational opportunity to youth in the Alternative School.
“The youth take great joy in watching their hard work grow into something beautiful and bountiful to share with the community,” said Daniel.
The garden also provided a place of inspiration for artists and visitors to the community center.
