Garden

New Westminster Plant a Row • Grow a Row Program

All those with green thumbs should look into the Plant a Row, Grow a Row Program, as well as enjoy the spreading of horticultural knowledge through the 13th Annual Spring Gardeners' Party

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Credit: Plant a Row • Grow a Row Program

Plant a Row • Grow a Row Program the bridge between food banks and gardeners

Anyone who has hauled in buckets of beans from a sky-high scarlet runner, snapped off a zillion zucchinis over a summer or crammed colander after colander full of kale knows just how nice it is to have a lot or a little to share from the garden.

And who better to share with than those who need it most? “Every day kids in Canada go hungry,” says Claude LeDoux, co-coordinator of the New Westminster Plant a Row • Grow a Row Program, “and the non-perishable foods handed out by the food bank may not contain all the vitamins and minerals they need.”

A conduit between the food bank and gardeners with a little (or lot!) of extra produce to share, Plant a Row • Grow a Row has a mandate to provide needy families, and especially children, with fresh fruits and vegetables.
 

13th Annual Spring Gardeners’ Party

In celebration of growing food for both our own families and others, the New Westminster Plant a Row • Grow a Row team is kicking off their 13th Annual Spring Gardeners’ Party and everyone is invited.

“Our party is for learning, laughing and enjoying the spreading of horticultural knowledge. The focus is to assist new and advanced gardeners with techniques for growing edibles,” says LeDoux, who hosts the evening. A number of speakers will share “true grassroots know-how and their extensive experience.”

Brian Minter, national spokesperson for Plant a Row • Grow a Row, will kick off the evening. Joining him are Conway Lum on growing fruit, Pasquale Porico on mason bees, Arzeena Hamir (Richmond Food Security Society) on seed starting, June Hewko (Lee Valley) on garden tools and Lyle Courtice (Harkaway Botanicals) on growing veggies in pots.

So come out and join the fun: Thursday, March 15, at 6 pm at St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Avenue, Burnaby (just off Kingsway near the Burnaby/New Westminster border).

Admission is free although a non-perishable donation to the food bank is appreciated. Coffee and tea will be served, and there are giveaways from West Coast Seeds and GardenWise.

To find out more about the evening and how to get involved, call St. Thomas More Collegiate at 604-521-1801 or go to www.growarow.org for information about the national program.