A team of three local gardeners have come together to create a map showcasing all of the many initiatives currently underway by volunteer gardeners and tree planters across Elora and Fergus.
Calling themselves the Fergus Elora Community of Growers, Kate Anderson, Sue McPhedran and Kari Olsen, mapped 19 of the area's food, flower and tree sites as a tour guide for the upcoming Culture Days which runs from Sept. 20 to October 13.
The map can be found on the Elora Environment Centre website and in hard-copy at local tourism offices and libraries.
As the trio began to work on the project, they realized that many community planting initiatives were largely unknown to the public.
"We didn't feel like there was any unifying presence for gardeners. And there's so many newcomers coming to the community. We thought it would be great if they could get a snap shot into everything that's going on and get an introduction to growing in our community," said Kate Anderson, project lead for Food Forest Centre Wellington and volunteer with Neighbourwoods.
"Often, I take a walk at the Fergus Arboretum. There's a lot of people I talk to who don't even know that we have an Arboretum."
Anderson says the map can also be a useful tool for people who have lived in the community for a while, and who might not be aware of some of the gardening initiatives in the area.
"This is also for anyone looking to get involved in the community," Anderson said.
"It gives them a nice overview if they are interested in 'all things growing' and all of the different ways that they can choose to get involved."
Signs at each site have QR codes to take visitors to the map's online version and links to information about the site’s caretakers and garden history.
Kari Olsen came up with the idea for the map.
A member of the Elora Salem Horticultural Society, Olsen is thrilled to see the project include the design and installation of a native pollinator garden at the Elora Centre for the Arts which will begin with site preparation on Sept. 24th, followed by fall planting two weeks later.
"We are inviting people to get involved at any stage. Putting in native plants is so important for the environment,” Olsen said.
The map includes nearby bike trails and walking paths, amenities, and where to park for those travelling by car. It also highlights just a few of the projects Neighbourwoods is working on locally, including tree planting on the Trestle Bridge Trail.
Last fall Neighbourwoods’ volunteers pulled invasive buckthorn from along the trail and this spring replanted it with native trees and shrubs.
Neighbourwoods has its own Culture Days project, the Tree Trust Trail. One of the trees is also featured on the Community of Growers’ map.
“We’re restoring native species to provide better habitat,” Anderson said.
McPhedran, is the co-founder of the Centre Wellington Mobile Market which works to contribute to food security in the community. She has added several food gardens to the map, including Food Forest Centre Wellington and the Community Garden Network.
“We really want to encourage people to grow their own food. It’s fresher. You plant fruits and vegetables that match your family’s culture and taste preferences," McPhedran said.
"There are fewer trips to the grocery store and it’s better for the planet."
Along with cherry trees, Food Forest Centre Wellington has an apple tree, as well as a variety of other fruits, herbs and vegetables.
A community harvest event will be held at the Food Forest on Sept. 28th, for the community to be able to pick and press apples, harvest herbs and take home berry plants.
Anderson hopes the map will bring increased awareness as to what's being done in the community when it comes to growing and that the township will see how successful the Food Forest is.
"As interest in growing increases, one of my dreams is too see council and the leadership be more receptive to having more land allotted for growing food," she said.
"We would love to see more of a pivot, to see more public land uses that are both beautifying, productive for food and for habitat restoration."
