Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-7-27, Page 13• .�:..._Jrenchn an's Inn Restaurant Everyday 5 to 6:30 p.m. Complete Dinner $16.95 Exeter 235-2008 Second section - July 27 1994 A vegetable patch for everyone A community garden could make the town more ecologically aware, says Exeter's Ryan Good By Adrian Harte T -A Editor EXETER - Ryan Good's vi- sion has already been shrugged off by a puzzled town council. But he isn't about to be swayed from his mission of finding a place in Exeter to put a community vegetable garden - a place to highlight ecology awareness and sustainable food cycles. Good is a student of Environment and Resources at Waterloo University, but he said it wasn't until he visited Pe- terborough's community garden that he re- alized such an attraction would be perfect for his home of Ex- eter as well. ***4 .--.- Of 19 suitable sites around town he has scouted out, Good says there are three good ones, one of which is just about perfect. The seldom -used field between the Exeter pool and Hill Street back yards would be an ideal location for a veg- etable patch to highlight new growing techniques. Using only one corner of the field, Good said the garden wouldn't be as council first thought, a place for people to grow their own produce, but would instead be a "demonstration garden", organized and planted by a committee or club. There is no horticultural so- ciety presently in Exeter, "but that's maybe one of the things that will offshoot from this," said Good. As council noted, a lot of people have their own vegetable patches at home. But Good says the community garden's purpose would be to test cutting-edge methods to control pests and other problems usually solved with chemicals. "Hopefully, we'll be using really innovative techniques," he said. "You have to live with the wildlife," said Good of MacNaugton Park's population of rabbits and squirrels. "In most cases you can." The garden, if located behind the pool, would also be just around the corner from the scenic gardens under way by the Lions Club. Good says that would be an ideal and complementary situation. The park would also offer parking for school bus tours, making the gardens "like an outdoor classroom". Students of both elementary and high schools could learn a great deal from watching the progress of vegetables through the season, predicts Good. "There'll be a fairly large composting component to it," he said. Produce harvested could be donated to a food bank, as is the case at other community gardens. Other organizations use the food for a year-end banquet, or divide it up amongst members. "Nowhere in Huron County has something like this been done," said Good, and hopes Exeter will be the first town to pave the way. He points to a copy of the town's recently -drafted strategic plan and its frequent references to environmental and sustainability is- sues. "I'm not sure if [council] realize it, but what they're trying to do is what I'm trying to do," said Good. With a start-up investment cost of only about $700 to see the gar- den through its first year, Good says it is an idea council can't pass up. Funds to promote the garden's work can com0 through various environmental programs. Good says he has spent a great deal of time on his proposal and hopes council will be giving it serious thought when he makes a full presentation in the coming weeks. Will they look on it char- itably? "I hope they do," said Good. "I don't plan on giving up if they don't." Good said he is interested from hearing from other people who might want to get involved in a community garden project. His phone number is 235-0795. Ryan Good says only a small part of the land behind the Exet- er pool would have to be given up to create a community veg- etable garden. For only a few hundred dollars, Exeter, he says, could create something that has been successful in oth- er Ontario communities. • CALLING ALL ■ SIMMS ;ALE c ONTINUES BALL GLOVESCLOTHING Best Selection Save up to 0 T-SHIRTS • SHORT JACKETS • SUITS BATHING SUITS 50% smV ttrnk° 'r'. TY2 HELMETS Fres semby ENTIRE STOCK 20% ALL BICYCLE HELMETS Save t` 30%, OFF REG. PRICE asagmas a mops FOOTWEAR FRENZY 100's of pairs to choose' from GREAT STYL1/2ES Woman • Wom• Children* SAVE. PRICE UP OR n) MORE ti,'" canvass maw atm= INCLUDING.., BALL & SOCCER SHOES BEM H SANDALS We have Rae(, Nib, Misty Mountain, Everest and more Oha ttctwuree puouve 110 Main N. Exeter 235-0800 •OURC1 POR 111.40R T•011 Radio Shank 450 Bu. Model 420 20.8x38 Tires DESIGNED SMART. BUILT TOUGH. UNITS NOW., /N STOCK �3':'. r- _ ,:k.aa+.m.::x:ext...._ , 500 Bu. Model 472 24.5x32 Tires 630 Bu. Model 6/4 30.5x32 Tires BRENT Grain Buggy for eve o aeration Exclusive Dealer for Exeter and Surrounding Area PRICED FROM $8,495 CALL LENT JERRY OR MARK VR DETAILS neffen FARM EQUIPMENT - EXETER, ONTARIO Sales, Service & Rentals since 1932 2a°) 21 -81 1 2. -212 BRENT FAX (519)