Souris is a growing community thanks to new garden

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This article was published 30/05/2024 (580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nestled between a small hill down Fifth Ave. West and Plum Creek lies a small plot of land owned by the municipality of Souris-Glenwood. Walnut trees line the back of the property, where the land drops off to the rushing creek below.

In any other situation the walnut trees might be a gift, but here they could cause a bit of a headache. That’s because last year, the municipality offered the land to the Souris-Glenwood Community Garden. Manon Timshel, chair of the community garden’s board, said that the walnut trees can be toxic to plants that grow too close to them.

Tree huggers can rest easy knowing that Timshel is going to do all she can to move them to a place where they can thrive properly, away from this gem of produce. If all goes according to plan, the trees will be lovingly removed and given to the Souris and Glenwood Agricultural Society.

But this is on the long list of future community garden endeavours. First, they have to officially open.

The grand opening of the garden is slated for May 31, where board members will have natural refreshments befitting the setting available, like juices from homemade cordials and maple candies made from maple tapped by the local foraging group.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in our startup foraging club. This was my first year tapping maple trees, and so we tapped some silver maple and had a great, great run from it,” said Timshel.

While this is the garden’s first year officially open, it was operational last year in a limited capacity — only 192 square feet. The garden was small but mighty, producing over a pound of organic vegetables per square foot.

This year, the garden is bigger and expected to be even better, thanks to the community spirit of the garden. The garden now boasts a large in-ground gardening space that will be divided into plots for members who have signed up. The three existing beds at the back of the property will be for the local daycare kids, where they will get the chance to test out their little green thumbs growing strawberry plants and colourful carrots.

Local farmers and producers lent a hand to the garden by providing tilling services and extra manure. Even local students got involved. The Grade 7 woodshop class at Souris School built five additional raised garden beds. Eighth-graders built five accessible garden beds, which allow room for mobility devices and wheelchairs so those with disabilities can have fun gardening. In addition, a ramp was placed to make it easier to reach the accessible garden beds.

“We truly want to make it accessible in every way that we can,” Timshel said.

Garden membership is $25 for the whole season. That fee covers essentials like insurance and basic property management. With rising food costs, Timshel said it was crucial that the fee was low to allow anyone to grow their own produce.

On that note, Timshel said the community garden will donate extra produce to local churches and food banks.

“Everyone’s feeling the brunt of inflation … We really just want to show people that the prairies have lots of food. There’s enough for everyone,” Timshel said.

The gardeners are as diverse as the plants grown in the garden. Members range from those who have lived in Souris their whole lives to area newcomers. A couple from Nigeria have reserved plot and are excited to grow various kinds of African spinach. There will be a section of the garden reserved to grow corn and beans using Indigenous growing techniques, inspired by Timshel’s wife, Jenwa Beaupre, who is Indigenous.

Amy Lees, vice-chair of the community garden, was present with her two-year-old son Vincent on May 20 to help make finishing touches before the grand opening. Timshel had also brought her son Milo, who is just a few months younger than Vincent. The two boys got their hands dirty digging for rocks while their moms were hard at work labelling and sectioning off the garden.

Gardening will be a generational family affair at this garden. Timshel shares a plot with her mother, and Beaupre will share a plot with her father.

» cmcconkey@brandonsun.com