After only being able to have a garden on the deck of her apartment for many years, MaryAnne Ullman will now be gardening alongside her East Village neighbours at the new community garden.
Ullman signed up because she has always loved gardening, but also to give back to her community.
“I’m doing it to help out the Friendship Centre, which gives out food every Thursday,” said Ullman.
The garden, located on 7 Avenue and 5 Street, has approximately 43 individual plots for a variety of different vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Ald. Druh Farrell was a leader in getting a community garden in the East Village by getting it included in the 2005 area redevelopment plan.
“This neighbourhood needs every opportunity it can to build community,” said Farrell.
Farrell said that the neighbourhood is dispersed and diverse and a community garden will help bring it together.
The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) which is working on updating the infrastructure in the area provided the plot of land.
“It was a vacant piece of dirt and all it did was create dust and collect garbage,” said Chris Ollenberger, president and CEO of CMLC.
Ollenberger said the garden would be more productive and visually appealing.
This piece of land is only temporary. A permanent garden will eventually be built closer to 6 Street.
