Bruce Botanical Food Gardens receive Trillium grant

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has stepped up to the plate to nurture new growth at the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens in Ripley, with a commitment of $50,000 over two years. Funding is directed to hire a part-time staff person to develop the non-profit's volunteer and funding activities.

The food gardens are not only committed to growing food but also growing capacity in the community. In response to OTF's recommendation, the board of directors has been expanded to seven board members from five.

Growth brings with it positive change. Lynne Taylor, who has been responsible for the original concept of the food gardens and, as president, has led its development, stepped down as the board lead at the end of her term at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held Jan. 22.
Subsequently, the new board has offered Taylor the part-time position of executive director. The offer has been accepted and the duties will be assumed immediately.

"Three new directors have been elected to the board and each is a resident of Huron-Kinloss which we all felt was an important direction in representing the best interests of our host community," says Taylor. The new board of directors, elected at the AGM, represents not only Huron- Kinloss but also the surrounding region.
It includes new president Nan Grant (Huron-Kinloss), vice-president Heather Pletsch (Port Elgin), secretary-treasurer Jodi MacArthur (Kincardine), director Allan Ribbink (Tiverton), director Alex Duthie (Kincardine), director Wilfred Gamble (Huron-Kinloss), and director Rick Orr (Huron-Kinloss).

In addition to the immediate demands of planting, maintaining, and harvesting the food grown on the property, the food gardens have a growing list of projects that volunteers are encouraged to get involved in developing. Among them, are the creation of a food forest, construction of a mud oven and side grill, the installation of an outdoor docu-theatre, the completion of the toddler's maze started last fall, and a host of special events.

Pletsch, who has also been with the project since its early days five years ago, says the food gardens are always looking for novel ways to attract the attention of visitors and volunteers, alike; such as the toddler's maze project. "Familiarizing children with the function of a garden as early as possible will help instill in them a natural delving interest."

Hugelkulturs form the maze. They are giant mounds of organic matter (wood logs, branches, garden clippings and cuttings, straw, soil and plants). They act like large sponges, drawing up excess water from the soil that could otherwise damage surrounding plants that can't withstand 'wet feet'. Conversely they supply moisture back to the plants during dry conditions.

Taylor's design for the maze spells out "BBFG.ORG" in mammoth letters that will be seen by people in planes flying overhead. "Our organization is committed to thinking outside the usual box," Taylor says. "That's what makes us fun. The most recent Google Earth images of the property show the division line of the lands under lease by the food gardens so the next time aerial photos are taken, the 'BBFG' will be clearly identifiable in a way that viewers can be intrigued by us and then look us up."

The OTF has been instrumental in the ongoing success of the project. In 2012, the foundation funded the food gardens before they had acquired legal status as an organization. The Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation (PREDC) played an important role as project manager for the start-up.. It was through this funding that the initial construction of the site was made possible.

"We are very happy to see the food gardens go from success to success," says Ron Coristine, executive director of PREDC. "They are a terrific asset for Huron-Kinloss, and the gardens will only grow as an attraction in future. They are becoming an important centre of learning, horticulture and food preparation to name a few of the many programs.
"In short, they contribute to economic development as the programming develops and as more people come to take advantage of what the gardens have to offer. We are pleased that OTF has once again shown its support for this important initiative and we will continue to be available to the gardens to assist in their growth."

Taylor says the foundation's funding has been generous, "and in return, we plan to provide a high level of excellence in offering quality volunteer opportunities as we make our way to becoming self-sustainable."

If you would like to become involved, volunteers are encouraged, welcomed, and celebrated. For more information, visit the website at bbfg.org and on Facebook at Bruce Botanical Food Gardens; or contact Taylor at ltaylor@bbfg.org.


 

The new Bruce Botanical Food Gardens board of directors includes Allan Ribbink (L), Wilfred Gamble, vice-president Heather Pletsch, secretary-treasurer Jodi MacArthur, president Nan Grant, and Rick Orr; absent, is Alex Duthie; photo by Lynne Taylor