St. James community garden grows veggies, relationships

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This article was published 23/06/2023 (846 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A community garden in St. James is growing more than vegetables.

The Green Haven Community Garden opened earlier this month, with a goal of cultivating fresh produce as well as inter-generational and cross-cultural connections.

On Friday morning, residents gathered at the garden on the Deer Lodge Community Club grounds at 323 Bruce Ave. to celebrate the project, a joint initiative by St. James NDP MLA Adrien Sala, the community club and a host of local partners.

“Children, seniors, newcomers, avid gardeners, and newbies alike are sharing this pursuit of growing food together and getting to know each other,” said Breanna Sawatsky, president of the Deer Lodge Community Club. “We’re thrilled to offer this new space to facilitate these connections.”

Accessing a garden plot has been convenient for Teberh Zeru and her four children, who are currently observing the Apostles’ Fast — meaning they can’t eat any dairy or meat for 30 days.

Zeru, who moved to Winnipeg from Eritrea 18 years ago, and her daughters already have a thriving plot at the garden, filled with arugula, spinach and bundles of fresh herbs.

“It’s a really good opportunity,” Zeru said. “I’m saving lots of money and it’s organic at the same time.”

The idea for a community garden arose last year when Sala and others in the St. James neighbourhood were looking for ways to connect the area’s diverse range of residents.

“We had this local seniors’ building, we have a local elementary school, we’ve got all these new Canadians living next door, and we really didn’t have any opportunities for our community to come together,” Sala said. “This garden creates a really low-barrier way for all these different community members to come together around healthy food and being outside.”

The garden has partnered with West Winnipeg Food Security Network to ensure nothing goes to waste.

“Excess food will be distributed to members of our West Winnipeg community that maybe don’t have the ability to afford fresh food,” Sala said.

Two boxes down from Zeru’s plot, Karina Denysyuk, a Ukrainian immigrant, tends to her garden of green onions, tomatoes and cabbage.

Denysyuk’s family’s farming roots were originally planted in their Ukrainian homeland. After joining the St. James Horticultural Society last winter, Denysyuk was informed about the Green Haven Community Garden and immediately jumped at the opportunity to reserve a garden plot.

“My husband actually grew up in a family of farmers and his dad was an agronomist,” she said. “We really wanted to have an opportunity to grow our own produce.”

Maintaining her garden has boosted Denysyuk’s health while lowering her grocery bill. Before the snow hits the ground, she plans to can her remaining tomatoes and freeze leftover cabbage to enjoy throughout the winter.

In the short time she’s gardened at Green Haven, Denysyuk has come home with more than just veggies. Meeting fellow gardeners has nourished a stronger sense of community and connection to St. James.

“When we come here, conversation starts: how are you doing, what is your experience, what are you planting?” Denysyuk said. “Everybody is curious about each other.”

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca