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Schomberg Community Farm ramps up efforts![]() Schomberg Community Farm committee members Cheryl Fisher and Julie Schweitzer weeding their first garden with some sprouting garlic cloves that they planted in the fall. The Schomberg Community Garden is in the early stages of establishing itself and members are currently campaigning to raise $80,000 to build a bridge to have access to the lot. By Jeff Doner After first breaking ground and getting started last fall, the Schomberg Community Farm committee is ramping up their efforts to push the project ahead this summer. Situated on a six-acre plot west of Main Street in Schomberg, organizers are looking to turn the site into a place for a variety of activities for people in the community. They hope to include gardening allotments, specialty gardens for herbs and butterflies, bee-hives, a chicken coop, picnic area, a farmer's market, a place to offer educational workshops; and much more. However, in order to truly get the project off the ground, the committee needs to raise $80,000 to put in a bridge over the creek from Western Ave. for long-term access the property. “The bridge is really key to everything. Not just getting over there, but to all the many plans we have,” said chair of the Schomberg Community Farm, Julie Schweizer. “We have reached out to businesses within King Township. We need $80,000 and the bridge is a lifetime infrastructure that donors can put their name on and be a part of for forever. To be one that makes the bridge, may not be as impactful today, but as we go further and further the bridge will become more fundamental.” At this point in time, Schweizer said the committee has been canvassing businesses owners along Main Street for support and to help create awareness for the project. “If not for financial support, we want to make connections and be friends, and that's going really well. People have been so great and supportive; it's just getting this bridge built before we can get going over there.” With spring already upon us, the committee is hoping to raise enough money for the bridge by mid-summer so that they can get to work. “It could still happen if we get the funds by the end of June, even July, we could get this started in August-September and get things going for the fall,” Schweitzer said. A big part of the commitment is towards their educational hands-on workshops, of which the first will take place on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farm. This workshop in particular will be based on teaching the key principles of permaculture (an eco-system approach to gardening). At the workshop, participants will learn hands-on techniques for garden designs that are “productive, healthy and engaging for people of all ages.” The cost for the workshop is $10 per person or $25 per family. Schweitzer said she hopes the workshops and the overall vision of the garden will get people encouraged to learn more about establishing sustainable food sources and also just to get outside. “I feel that we as a society are detached from earth,” she said. “We're just rushing through life and I think that this farm and what we can do over there, for adults and children, is to slow down, reconnect, get your hands dirty, plant some seeds and watch those seeds grow into food. I'm doing this to bring about awareness and just talk about gardening.” When the garden gets off the ground, one of many initiatives will be to hold workshops on how to cook healthy things with the food they have grown. For more information on how to get involved or how you can help, contact Julie Schweizer at julie.schweizer@sympatico.ca or visit www.schombergcommunityfarm.ca. |
Excerpt: After first breaking ground and getting started last fall, the Schomberg Community Farm committee is ramping up their efforts to push the project ahead this summer. |
Post date: 2014-05-28 09:32:41 Post date GMT: 2014-05-28 13:32:41 Post modified date: 2014-07-15 13:58:08 Post modified date GMT: 2014-07-15 17:58:08 |
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