Latest news with #communitygarden
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Just the beginning': Pasqua First Nation's new garden aims to support food sovereignty
Garden supervisor Heather Brailean hopes the community will be able to offset the rising cost of food through the garden. (BrittanyPoitras/CTVNews) Pasqua First Nation officially unveiled their new community garden July 11, aimed at supporting food sovereignty and improving the well-being of its members – inside and out. A launch ceremony marked the start of a five-year initiative, designed to provide free produce to band members, while also engaging the community in the process of growing food. The garden is situated on land that was once owned by Delbert Pasqua, a band councillor for 14 years who spent his whole life on the First Nation. It is now home to more than 10 different types of plants and vegetables, all grown by community members. The late Delbert Pasqua had expressed a final wish for the land to be used for the benefit of the community and Pasqua Coun. Roman Pasqua took that responsibility seriously. 'He summoned us to his house and gave me instruction to take care of the land as best I could,' Pasqua said. The idea for the garden came to life after community members and leaders saw the rising cost of produce and the increasing need for healthier food. The community hopes the project will inspire other First Nations to take similar steps towards self sustainability. 'I think it has to go in connection with our food sovereignty and feeding our nation members,' said Pasqua. 'Not just our members on the reserve, but also off-reserve. This garden is part of something much bigger.' Lands manager Candace Carter expressed the importance of knowing where the food comes from. 'When we go to the grocery store, we're not sure where our food comes from. We just buy it and cook it, and we eat it. But here we actually know. We started right from a little tiny seed right to a vegetable. And that's the best for us.' According to the garden supervisor, Heather Brailean, Pasqua band members will benefit in more ways than one. 'The cost of buying food has gone up, and I believe that our community needs healthy food. If we create our own garden, I know that the community can afford to come out and pick their own food for free,' Brailean said. This season marks the first year of Pasqua's five-year garden project, where members will have access to the garden's plants during harvest season in the fall. 'Whoever in our community can come out here and, if they want to use some herbs, they can come pick,' Brailean explained. Pasqua First Nation community garden Pasqua First Nation members overlook the community garden. (BrittanyPoitras/CTVNews) Brailean is a teacher and active community member who has more than 20 years of experience in her own garden, now she wants to pass along her knowledge - to all ages. 'Some kids don't know where a carrot comes from or where zucchini comes from. For them, this is all brand new,' she explained. 'I want the school to come out and bring the grades and be able to walk around the plants themselves and show them how each plant is growing,' she added. Each plant is marked with a metal steak, all donated to the garden from Pro Metal Industries, which is also owned by Pasqua First Nation. Many of the wooden and metal markers have incorporated their traditional language on them, providing the opportunity for people to learn the traditional names of plants. The garden is beginning to flourish, but not without its own set of challenges, like securing funding and the lack of an irrigation system. The employees currently water each plant individually with a bucket, adding physical exercise to the benefits of the gardeners. After months of planning and planting, the garden is beginning to see the growth of their first seasonal crops, which they will harvest in the fall. The garden will include a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and medicinal plants - all available free of charge to band members. 'I believe it's just the beginning.' said the lands manager. Through their vision of looking to the future and health of their band members, Pasqua First Nation is planting seeds of hope in their community. This initiative plans to take care of all areas of the reserves medicine wheel and will taste good in the process.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Devon garden set up for social prescribing wins award
A community garden set up to support social prescribing has become Devon's 1,000th official wildlife garden. Friends of Downhorn Park in Plymstock, near Plymouth, started the wildlife garden with the aim of transforming a neglected green space while providing opportunities for community garden, which includes a bug hotel and flourishes without the use of pesticides, has now earned Devon Wildlife Trust's 1,000th Wildlife Garden Munn, chairman of the Friends of Downhorn Park, said: "Wildlife gardening is really important because the decline in habitat for wildlife is massive." Mr Munn said the garden was created in 2022 by a group concerned the green space was becoming degraded and with the hope of helping a local doctor."A local GP was interested in the idea of a community garden for their social prescribing," he prescribing connects patients with community activities and groups, rather than solely relying on medical treatments, according to the establishing Friends of Downhorn Park, the garden has become a haven for wildlife with areas to help pollinators, hundreds of trees and a bug hotel, said the group. It also has benches for visitors and raised beds containing a range of flowers, herbs, and Munn said: "Wildlife gardening is really important because the decline in habitat for wildlife is massive."In cities and suburban areas like this is, although there are a lot of gardens, it's really important that gardens have wildlife at their heart." Since its launch in 2021, the Wildlife Garden Award has been used to recognise the spread of nature-friendly garden practices, said the Devon Wildlife Lewis, from the trust, said they were thrilled to have reached 1,000 awards."It's a real testament to how much people across Devon care about nature," she said."In the three years since launching the scheme, we've seen people planting for pollinators, creating ponds, seed swapping with neighbours, and so much more."
Health Line
6 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Activities Our Team Does on Weekdays
Engaging in activities on weekdays may benefit your mental and physical health. Some activities you may consider include gardening, walking, and signing up for clubs or classes. By the end of the weekday, you may not feel like there is enough time left to engage in any activities. It can be tempting to spend the evening on the couch watching TV. However, you can still participate in certain activities on weekdays. This can help you avoid the 'living for the weekend' mindset. Depending on the activity you choose, it may even benefit your physical or mental health. Gardening Gardening can be a good way to fit extra physical activity into your day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies light gardening and yard work, such as raking and mowing the lawn, as moderate physical activity. According to a 2024 research review, gardening is also associated with improved psychological and physiological well-being. Editor Louisa Wah heads to her community garden plot every day after work to tend to her vegetables and flowers. While she gardens, she also encounters chickens, birds, butterflies, bees, and all sorts of insects. 'It's a great way for me to clear my mind, unwind, and connect with nature—not to mention the physical exercise I get as a bonus!' she says. Editor Heather Hobbs says that gardening helps her feel more at peace and connected with nature, all while getting a bit of a workout. 'I read in a gardening book that it's best practice to spend at least 10 minutes gardening each day so that you can stay on top of it, and so it feels like less of a chore you save for the weekend,' she says. Some maintenance activities she does include: pulling weeds harvesting vegetables checking plants for infection and harmful insects Clubs and classes Socializing with others and maintaining friendships in adulthood may be beneficial for one's overall well-being. One way to meet new people is to join clubs and classes. Editor Samantha Costa signed up for a seven-week Monday night painting class at her local art center. 'It gives me something stimulating to look forward to after the weekend,' she says. Editor Christina Snyder plans to join a once-weekly bowling league this Fall with some of her friends, which she says will be a fun way to enjoy the week. She currently attends weeknight trivia with her friends to help break up the week and do something fun and interesting. Some other clubs and classes you may consider joining include group fitness classes, book clubs, and tabletop gaming groups. You don't necessarily need to sign up for a formal class to reap the benefits of socializing. Editor Sarah Matysiak will do something around town with her friends, or simply watch a show and make a craft together.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘Brings a lot of joy': Community garden initiative offers lessons on growing produce
The Growing Together program at the Alberta Avenue community garden is teaching people new skills and helping to address food insecurity. Marek Tkach reports. The Alberta Avenue Community Garden is sprouting opportunities and free produce for gardeners-in-training. A new program called 'Growing Together' gives community members a crack at learning how to garden and grow their own food to take home. • Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts on all the top Edmonton stories Jacob Ulickij, the lead gardener, told CTV News Edmonton the program is open to anyone looking to grow a green thumb. '(It's for) anybody who wants to learn, wants to strengthen the skills they already have or learn something new … this is a really great opportunity for them to see how a biodynamic farm can work within Alberta,' Ulickij said on Monday. 'Alberta Avenue is a very strong community and with lots of community gardens, but there's a lot of food insecurity happening across Edmonton more than ever … so Growing Together is utilizing space that we had in order to provide free food for the community,' he added. Would-be gardeners in the community will have to fill an online questionnaire to specify whether they are looking to donate their time, looking for free produce, or just gain knowledge for their own projects. Additionally, whatever produce is leftover from the dedicated area of the gardens will be donated to charities across the city. 'We give out non-perishable food from the food bank every week, and we've been doing that for the last five years. We very seldom get fresh produce, and so whenever we do get it, we're excited to be able to hand that out,' said Frank Parker, the coordinator for the Bethel Gospel Chapel's pantry. 'It goes really fast. People really appreciate it, and it's good to give out something that's fresh and healthy rather than food that comes in cans and boxes,' he added. Karen Mykietka, the operations manager for the Alberta Avenue Community League, told CTV News Edmonton how the garden is bringing new life to the space. 'It used to just be a grassy field because it was formerly an ice rink, and then slowly, from 2011 we just rototilled a patch of lawn and made some garden beds, and then we've been expanding ever since,' Mykietka said. 'Now we have 35 families that garden here, plus Jacob in the center, and any of the people who are coming out to help him.' Ulickij said it 'brings a lot of joy' knowing he's able to pass on his knowledge for free to people who are benefitting from the program. Visit the Alberta Avenue Community League website for information about the growing initiative. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTV News
15-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Alberta Avenue creates program to address food insecurity
Alberta Avenue creates program to address food insecurity The Growing Together program at the Alberta Avenue community garden is teaching people new skills and helping to address food insecurity. CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach has the story.
