The Badlands Community Garden Society has received final permission to begin the Heritage Garden on the site known as Petro Canada Park.
The society received approval from the Town of Drumheller earlier this spring to build the Heritage Garden, which will create a usable green space in the downtown core that also serves as an educative resource, demonstrating native species and xeriscaping. Recently they received the green light from the owner of the land to go ahead with the project. They hope to get working on this space this month.
“I think it is going to be nice, I am glad we finally got through all the hurdles and can finally start planting,” said Chris Marion of the Badlands Community Garden Society.
Marion said to watch for sandwich board on the site, and on the Badlands Community Garden Society website for work bee times.
This is on top of a number of other projects the society has in the works. The Newcastle Community Garden is fully rented out by users and recently members held a work bee to beautify the site.
“Now that we have boxes built and functional, and grew stuff last year, we are looking at making it prettier,” said Marion. “We now have water barrels and have some benches we are looking at bringing in.”
Some of these items they purchased through the World’s Largest Dinosaur Legacy Grant, which they were awarded last year.
They are also planning to build a pergola for shade.
The society has also received permission to construct a second community garden on a lot facing Town Hall. However, due to weather, they were not able to organize a work bee to get the site in shape.
Another major project they have been diligently working on is the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm.
“It is almost all planted and things are coming up, it looks great,” said Marion.
This spring the society received permission to revive a complex of greenhouses west of the Town of Drumheller to start the farm. The CSA model is tried and true, where residents can purchase shares in the farm, and in turn reap the reward of harvest each month. Marion said they have sold a few shares, including five work shares, where the person can make their contribution through sweat equity.
“These are people who come and help as well. Instead of buying shares with money, they buy it through the work they put in, so they have to work four hours a week for their share,” said Marion. “That way we have more help too.”
The society has also been working on hiring two students to work with them on their various projects. They received funding for the hire through the STEP program.
“It makes a quite big difference, we get twice as much manpower so it is really helpful,” said Marion.
The Badlands Community Garden Society is also planning a garden tour this season, and has a number of local gardens lined up for the event on July 23. This year it looks like they have a number of residents in East Coulee signed up to share their gardens.
Nominations are open until July 11 and forms are available at www.badlandsgardens.ca.