Although ΡΗΦήΜμΜΓ Lakeβs community garden is located on land adjacent to Immaculata Church, you wonβt see the garden driving along Third Avenue.
Thatβs because the garden is perfectly hidden by houses, trees and even a playground, making it a safe haven in town.
Once you finally find the βsecret garden,β you might be surprised by all the work thatβs been put into the site over the past few months.
The now well-maintained garden includes 21 beds, which have all been booked for the season. A new entrance, intended to be more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities, was built via Nault Drive. An entrance sign was recently placed and a new shed is under construction.
In addition, many more plans and initiatives are under development - involving both physical structures and community outreach programs.
Whatβs surprising about this garden is that up until a few months ago, many people in ΡΗΦήΜμΜΓ Lake didnβt even know this space existed.
Although the original allotment garden and fence were built in 2002, the space had been neglected for a number of years, with only a few of the beds being utilized. In addition, a serious thistle infestation had developed in the garden and there had been little or no grass cutting in recent years, so the site had become quite overgrown.
βFor anybody to want to come here, it had to look like there was hope,β said Tracey Payne, president of the ΡΗΦήΜμΜΓ Lake Community Garden Society.
The ΡΗΦήΜμΜΓ Lake Community Garden Society, which was formed last August with five directors, quickly gathered support from the community and local government.
Since the society was formed, there has been an outpouring of in-kind donations and volunteer time, according to Payne.
The society believes that having a garden in ΡΗΦήΜμΜΓ Lake is a huge win for the community.
βItβs not just about potatoes and carrots,β explained Payne. βThe whole community aspect is so beneficial - itβs physical, itβs intellectual, itβs creative -; gardening meets a lot of peopleβs needs and itβs a way for people to interact.β
Payne explained that many seniors in town sometimes feel isolated, and the garden provides an opportunity for them to socialize while doing a healthy activity.
βI never come here and not see people,β says Payne. βThis is a place you can come and interact.β
She also points out to the multigenerational aspect of the garden. A group of children recently visited the site and learned some gardening techniques. People from different walks of life have also been taking advantage of the new space in town, including people with mental disabilities and people struggling with addictions.
βItβs a simple project, but it has a big impact.β
Payne said the space is not only for avid gardeners and that no previous experience is required as people help each other out.
Potatoes are the most popular produce being planting, as well as cabbage and broccoli.
Participants pay $20 a year and can work on their beds at any time. The only requirement is that they do four hours of volunteer work and follow the gardenβs rules.
Although the garden has made remarkable progress in just a few months, the society still has many plans for the space.
Soon there will be two eight-feet-wide, 80-feet-long in-ground beds. These will work as a co-op where people can grow potatoes, raspberries and strawberries.
βIt will be for everyone,β explained Payne.
The new shed, which is currently under construction, will include picnic tables, benches, and will work as a communication centre - with bulletin boards providing helpful tips for gardeners. In addition, the society plans to make the garden more family friendly by placing large sand boxes so that children can play in while their parents are gardening.
The directors also recognize the need for a restroom, and are considering building a greenhouse.
Although lots of plans are underway, Payne said itβs too soon to tell what the focus of the garden will be.
βAre we going to get more responses from schools, or seniors? Weβre waiting to see,β she said.
As a lifetime gardener, Payne said she learned that a garden always βreveals itself.β She meant that gardeners are only the facilitators of beauty.
βYou might get the idea that youβre just coming here to grow potatoes and carrots, but youβre going to learn a whole bunch of other stuff,β she said. βYou just have to get started.β
