Cavell Park Community Garden Harvest Party
By Lauren Power

It’s harvest time at the foot of Signal Hill.

The local farmers at Cavell Park Community Garden are sharing up the fruits (and vegetables) of their labours — strawberries, potatoes, fresh herbs, and more — and getting ready for their annual Harvest Party.

The successful community garden, which is one of more than a dozen currently operating in the city, has been around since 2012, when a group of residents from in and around the Battery started talking about shared interests in safely growing organic food and enhancing food security within the community.

Through an agreement with The City of St. John’s Parks Department, an unused section of park land was allotted as a community garden.

“Increasingly, these days, people are realizing the numerous benefits of gardening that go beyond delicious and healthy food, such as the sense of accomplishment and community,” says Cavell Park Community Garden board member Kate Dutton.

“Growing in a community garden allows for lots of dialogue and exchange of knowledge, which can help make gardening more accessible.”

The garden currently has forty raised beds, most of which are rented annually by individuals or families who want to grow their own produce, but who don’t necessarily have access to spaces to garden. Other would-be farmers are held back by the contaminated soil in their yards — a common problem in downtown St. John’s.

This year, local farmers are harvesting lots from the clean soil of the garden, including greens, garlic, edamame, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, edible flowers, and even melons.

To celebrate the end of the growing season, the neighbourhood will be gathering this Saturday at the garden for an all-ages, family-friendly event.

Neighbours and the general public are welcome to bring a dish for the pot luck, set up a picnic blanket, get their face painted, throw around a Frisbee, or take in a gardening workshop.

The Cavell Park Community Garden harvest party will be held on Saturday, September 27th, from 1 to 3 pm (Rain date Sunday, September 28th). The garden is located in Cavell Park, which is off Cavell Lane, across from Belbin’s Grocery. Go to www.cavellgarden.ca for details.