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Garden tools for everyone

A heaping amount of garden tools were recently donated to the Vanderhoof community garden
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Kids from McLeod Elementary helped to unload new tools donated to the community garden.

A heaping amount of gardening tools were donated to the community garden this week thanks to the School District No. 91.

With the recent teacher’s Job Action having delayed the start of school, teachers at NVSS were unable to get Project Agriculture off the ground in time. Using a portion of funds originaly meant for that program, the district career and trades program co-ordinator, Darren Carpenter, went out and bought a truckload of resources for the community garden. “Everyone still wins,” said Mr. Carpenter. “By getting these garden tools it still fits a lot of the same criteria as the agriculture program by encouraging team work and teaching students how to grow food.”

Kids from McLeod Elementary in the Farm to School program helped unload the tools on Nov. 7, and stored them neatly in the brand new shed recently put in by Allan Pagdin. About $1,200 was spent at the local Home Hardware on bins, shovels, gardening gloves, a wheelbarrow and much more.

“It’s a great start to the tool selection here at the garden and will be shared by everyone,” said Michelle Roberge, co-ordinator of the Farm to School program. “About $450 worth of produce was harvested by McLeod students on Harvest day [last month] so the Farm to School kids will definitely use the tools to help us with gardening next year.”

Seniors Connected co-ordinator Debra-Ann Bishop and Ms. Roberge are also currently working on a garden book that will sit nicely in a slot built on the outside of the new shed. It will showcase pictures and information about the community garden.

Charlee McIntyre, a grade 5 student, helped unload the tools and is happy to have been a part of Harvest Day. “I like planting things and I like getting food. I also like how when were done the food goes to our school,” she said.