Community garden growing sense of 'dignity and self-worth'

A new initiative at the Gathering Place offers guests a chance to earn a little money and gain confidence and self-esteem, while getting their hands dirty tending plants in a new community vegetable garden.

The organization which runs a service centre in St. John's for people dealing with complex issues ranging from physical illness and mental health problems to learning disabilities and addictions held the grand opening Monday.

"We're very excited, it's coming quite well," said executive director Joanne Thompson.

Organizers wanted to make use of a large outdoor space behindthe building on Military Road, and some guests had expressed an interest in working in a garden.

"So we rolled up our sleeves, and with no money went out in the garden, cleaned up and thought, 'OK, if we ask the community to help us, maybe they will, and of course they did," said Thompson.

Community effort

Murray's Garden Centre donated soil, Lester's Farm gave the group plants for the raised beds and the Rotary Club made a cash donation which was used to build stairs to make the garden more accessible for people with mobility issues.

It's a real celebration of how you can come together and really create something that is so important for so many people," said Thompson.

Guests have already planted the eight raised beds with vegetables,and two or three work in the garden at one time, tending to the weeding and watering on a daily basis.

The garden is part of a social enterprise effort started last fall, which Thompson said will help over 1,000 people who use the Gathering Place "find very modest ways to earn money."

"You know Fridays, we call it payday, and it may be $20 that someone's earned, but that's money they've earned. And that's part of reclaiming a little bit of your ability to make your decisions and move forward in a very positive way," said Thompson.

"It's a real sense of pride when you start to see the vegetables grow it's a real statement of ownership, pride of place, it's quite moving for us, the response has been phenomenal so we're excited."

Produce will be sold

Thompson said the lettuce should be ready to harvest in a couple of weeks, and the organization will put a notice on its website and Facebook page when it goes on sale to the public.

They're also goingto set up a mini farmer's market in the yard on Saturdays, which will include produce from the garden and other items guests have been working on, such as socks, quilts and artwork.