Bethany's Blog

We are excited and honoured that the Just Growing program has been nominated for Manitoba’s Golden Carrot Award. Ceremonies are being held at 9:30am on October 14th (World Food Day) at the Manitoba Legislature to recognize what is being done in the province towards healthy, fair, and sustainable food for all Manitobans.

A Rocha’s Winnipeg-based Just Growing program, in partnership with St. Margaret’s Anglican Church and the Winnipeg Foundation, focuses on stewarding small pieces of urban land to bring forth the fruits of the earth. This season the program has shared 350 kg of produce with those in need with 184 people, both individuals and families, directly participating in gardening and educational activities.  The benefits of Just Growing’s fresh produce extend to 1,040 people in Winnipeg living on the margins and who struggle to make ends meet.

The project was nominated by Evelyn Labun, who loaned Just Growing space in her backyard greenhouse in spring, thus enabling us to start transplants from heirloom seed donated by Heritage Harvest Seed. We are grateful to be nominated and acknowledged in this special way, and look forward to the celebrations on October 14th.

Questions? E-mail Just Growing Community Organizers, Jen or Bethany, at just.growing@arocha.ca or call (204)944.0722.

This item currently has no responses.

Winnipeg’s hot summer is in full swing, bringing beautiful and bountiful vegetables from the Just Growing gardens to the tables of people in need.

St. Margaret’s Anglican Church has partnered with A Rocha in urban agriculture. Over 325 sq. m. of garden plots (5 locations) grow a variety of produce and flowers; all of the produce reaped from these little pieces of God’s earth goes directly to neighbourhood residents in need, many of whom live with mental disabilities, are on welfare or disability, and some of whom are marginalized. Produce goes both to individuals who participate in tending and harvesting the gardens, as well as to local organizations such as transitional housing, food banks, and soup kitchens.

Thus far, Just Growing has harvested 16 kilograms of produce, including lettuce, spinach, peas, cauliflower, onions, beets, carrots, zucchini, vegetable marrow, sweet peppers, and a variety of herbs. 76 people have directly participated in activities and, in total, 450 people have benefitted, either through direct involvement or through produce deliveries to local organizations.

The four interns involved in the program continue to learn about the mechanics of gardening, as well as exploring the biblical and theological background for creation care.

Coming up:

Weekly events (through the end of August):

Tuesdays (10am) Garden Day, Portage Avenue Church

Thursdays (10am) Garden Day, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

Fridays (10am) Cooking Day (harvest, prepare, and eat together), St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

Special events: Arthropod (BUG) Day, August 24th, 4-5pm, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

This item currently has no responses.