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Fresh air, food and unity at the new Shear Park community garden

Community gardens are popping up in cities around the province with Barrie working on it’s third this weekend at 21 Holgate Street in Shear Park The new Shear Park garden was being constructed Saturday by volunteers and the Urban Pantry organiz

Community gardens are popping up in cities around the province, with Barrie working on its third this weekend on Holgate Street in Shear Park

The new Shear Park garden was being constructed Saturday by volunteers and the Urban Pantry organization to increase the food-growing opportunities of residents.

Jenna Zardo, who is with Urban Pantry, says that the new garden has been planned for a year and will not be the last as people can apply to get one in their neighbourhood.

“This is the third garden in the city’s allotment program, which is due to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, through the Canadian Mental Health Association,” said Zardo.

“We’d like to plant five more," she added. "City council has yet to vote it through, so there is a staff report being prepared and interested residents can keep checking the City of Barrie community gardens page on their website.”

Once the current project at Shear Park is completed, the city will open it up for residents to apply for a plot, which is $20 for a single and $50 for a double.

There are also accessible plots for those with mobility issues, which feature a raised garden.

The Shear Park garden will have 18 plots, half double and half single, with two of which being accessible, and will feature a wide variety of different plants and food that is raised by the local community.

Kim Keckes was one of the volunteers on hand during the wet weather Saturday and told BarrieToday there are few activities that can help create community better than getting your hands dirty in the ground.

“Gardening is such a fabulous way to create community because any gardener will talk your ear off how their tomatoes are doing, what the slugs are eating or what they’re doing to maintain their garden,” said Keckes. “It is also great for getting the family out together, away from inside and doing something together in the fresh air.”

To inquire about your neighbourhood getting a community garden, head to the website here.