Garden plots are now being offered for a minimal fee on the land near the Eckville Fire Department alongside the brown fence.
The Eckville Alliance Community Church is offering these garden plots.
People pay $20 per year for a 10 ft. by 20 ft. plot. Access to water from the fire department is included with a 15 minute watering time limit per day.
When paying for a plot residents are asked to fill out a form stating what their responsibilities are as far as keeping their plot clean of garbage and weed free.
The garden is very new. Manure has been added to fertilize the land.
The land is chemical free and will stay that way as no herbicides or insecticides are allowed.
Greg Pimm, administrator of the Eckville Community Garden said a weed spray could be easily made out of dish soap, epsom salt and vinegar.
Using this type of weed spray ensures there are no chemicals leaking off into someone else’s garden.
People interested in gardening in this community space have the options of gardening vegetables and/or flowers.
The main idea behind this garden is to give people an option to grow their own healthy fruits and vegetables during the summer months at a low cost.
Pimm came up with the idea of a community garden adding he was motivated by the desire to help people during the downturn in the economy.
“Hearing everybody losing their homes and losing their jobs, people being on employment insurance and can barely make ends meet,” Pimm said. “I thought this would be a good opportunity for people in town to start a garden at a very low cost.”
People can buy seeds and grow vegetables to try and feed their own family when they may or may not have a job to go to he added.
Through this initiative Pimm hopes that people will get back into the basics of life.
This can mean instead of running around and spending money they can run to the garden and grab a vegetable they have grown.
Pimm also hopes this helps people eat healthier during the summer months.
“The idea behind it is healthy food, low cost, bringing the community together, a little bit of exercise and a better, healthier, natural way to live,” Pimm said.
For those interested in a plot please contact Greg Pimm at 403-896-1417.
reporter@eckvilleecho.com