With spring here, thoughts of planting and gardening are on the minds of those with a green thumb. What better way to gain this valuable skill of gardening than to get involved while you’re young? That’s where Niverville’s Junior Gardening Program comes in.
Since 2008, a group of dedicated volunteers has put together this program for kids between the ages of five and 12. In addition to learning about gardening, they get to implement their knowledge with hands-on experience.
“Through the last eight years, we have had over 160 children come through the Junior Gardening Program,” says volunteer Annette Fast, “giving them a taste of adventure through growing plants, examining birds, bugs, and learning about composting.”
The program started with one individual with a passion to serve his community.
“The program was initiated through Fred Kaita and his vision to have the Heritage Community Gardens become an intergenerational horticultural place alongside the Norman Wittick Memorial Rose Gardens and the Pioneer Commemorative Gardens,” says Fast. “It was through Fred’s goodwill to serve his community that inspired us to follow his lead and develop such a program.”
Even though the program is for kids, it positively affects people of every age. “We have also strived to incorporate our seniors into the program,” Fast adds. “Retired teachers, farmers, and artists, either living at the Niverville Credit Union Manor or Silver Courts, have been gracious to our junior gardeners and were readily available to impart their knowledge to them.”
The location of the program is right in the middle of Niverville’s bustling business hub, the Heritage Centre. Fast says, “Considering that the daycare, the personal care facility, the wedding venue, the Southeastman Health facility, Hespelers' Cookhouse and Tavern, and soon to be the new Life Lease facility are all located here, the human traffic through our gardens is huge and all these mentioned have voiced their appreciation for them.”
The life skills these children learn are invaluable, and it's something they can utilize for the rest of their lives. They also get to give back to the community by donating a portion of their produce to Niverville’s Helping Hands program.
The program runs weekly from June until the second week of September.
