Harvesting the benefits from Kensington's new community garden

Butterflies fluttered through the air above a lush community garden that until this year was just a simple lawn.

Ross's Place, thecommunity garden beside 25 School Street in Kensington, P.E.I.,grew out of the mind of Jamie MacKay. MacKay, a Kensington resident, named the garden after his late fatherwho was an avid gardener.

"I grew up watching him and my mother constantly involved in community organizations, helping people out whether it be time, finances, whatever," MacKaysaid."I thought it would be a good way, in memory of him."

The town donated the land for the community garden.

Sponsors helped the seed of a community garden grow.

Tracy Bernard sponsored a plot that, by chance, her mother-in-law ended up using.

"I thought it was a good idea to help people who might not have much green space in the community and would like togrow their own garden, flowers or whatever," said Bernard.

The community garden has40 raised beds and a few in-ground gardens.

Mayor RowanCaseleysaidthe project has blossomed as more and more people started getting involved.

"They get together, socializing.Kids are involved and seniorsare involved nice to see them all working together," said Caseley.

Caseley said it was an easy decision for the town todonate the land, which was previously not being used.

"It's nice to see it being put to good use," Caseleysaid. "There are all kinds of towns that have parklands and green spaces available that'sjust a place to mow grass."

Some organizations, like the KensingtonHeritage Garden, used it as a way to share with others.

"We have had a little bit of a harvest and we have shared it with the library patrons," said Shelley Tamtom, with the Kensington Heritage Library.

"We told them also that they can come out and harvest themselves if they were in the neighbourhood and looking for some veggies."

Other gardeners are donating the grown food tolocal organizations like the food bank.

A local children's group incorporatedgardening into its day sotheyoungsters could learnby getting their hands dirty.

MacKay saidhe is pleased to see how the town has embraced Ross's Place.

"Something I think that [my dad]would be really proud of and would love to be a part of if he was still alive."

MacKaysaid he hopes to expand the project again during next year's growing season to get even more of the community involved.

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