Duane Hicks
The local “Community Garden Team” has asked the town for permission to use municipal property located on Lillie Avenue North, between Fifth and Sixth Street West, to develop a community garden.
The team is asking for a plot of about 30 metres by 15 metres, which they would like to use for at least five years.
“A community garden provides many benefits to the community as a whole and individuals,” Becky Holden, acting chair of the “Community Garden Team,” wrote in a letter received by council Monday evening.
“Community gardens address issues around food insecurity by providing accessible, affordable foods, provide opportunities for skill-building, socialization, and recreation, and can also increase community pride,” she noted.
“Our geographical location requires food to be transported far distances to get to our communities, which increases the cost and reduces the quality of the produce we receive,” added Holden.
“We feel that the need for community garden spaces is only going to be increasing as we continue to experience economic stress.
“We feel that a community garden would be a great asset to the Town of Fort Frances, and we look forward to having municipal support as we proceed with this project,” she concluded.
The current “Community Garden Team” consists of representatives from the Northwestern Health Unit, Northern Community Development Services, Sunset Country Métis, United Native Friendship Centre, and local gardeners.
The group formally came together back in January, but some members had been meeting informally prior to then.
The team meets monthly to keep members updated on the status of the project and to discuss its next steps.
Holden noted the group has administrative and gardening expertise, and is continuing to seek other partners in the project.
Council referred the request to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation.
