Community Garden

Posted Sunday April 1, 2001

In 2000, Hearthmakers participated in a community garden with the Boys and Girls Club, community organizations, and members. All of the plots were communal and aimed at organic, compatible planting, an example for the community of chemical free gardening practices and composting.

In 2001 the Community Garden, called the Quattrocchi Community Garden, was located at Kingston's Block D. On Sunday May 27, thirty community members participated in the planting day at Block D. Over the summer we hosted a great number of activities, including:

  • Garden and Community fun days
  • Tomato plant fundraiser
  • Art Workshops
  • Hosted day camps
  • Organic gardening workshops
  • Harvest and corn roast
  • Native plant gardens

Community Spirit

The garden at Block D promotes collective activity, skills training, neighbourhood beautification, and a sense of community spirit. This initiative will ensure the community access to the waterfront and will create a welcoming space for youth, seniors, and families.

The garden provides community members the opportunity to grow vegetables for their use, and through Food Not Bombs will provide a nutritious food source for people who do not ordinarily have access to fresh produce.

The garden also enhances the appearance of the community. It encourages an appreciation of nature in its urban form and creates a link between our actions and their environmental consequences.

The Kingston community came together to support the Quattrocchi Garden, as local business and community groups donated to make the garden a reality. Special thanks to the Sisters of Providence, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), the Cataraqui Conservation Authority, Pyke Farms, Plant's Choice, Reily's Garden Centre, Minakers Nurseries, Desert Lake Gardens, the Heirloom Seed Society, Burt's Green House, Silverbrook Garden Centre, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, and Food Not Bombs for serving wonderful food at the planting day! A very special thanks to the many volunteers involved. Congratulations!

The Environment

The garden is an example of chemical free gardening, which addresses pesticide related pollution. The volunteers and community members involved in the garden organized and hosted workshops to teach participants how to garden without the use of pesticides.

The garden will increase biodiversity by propagating, distributing and planting diverse native species and improving wildlife habitat. Thanks to the Cataraqui Conservation Authority, Block D can re-introduce plants that would grow there naturally and encourage other community members to naturalize their yards.

For more information about the garden, please contact us.