North Bay Fire fighters and Police Officers will become part-time farmers this summer.
Erin Reyce represents the Grow a Row campaign and she says the two organizations will take care of several gardens outside Fire Station One. Reyce says the harvest will benefit people in the community. She says the program is meant to bridge the gap between those growing local produce and those who have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Reyce says the harvest will go to the North Bay Food Bank, the Gathering Place and the food bank at the Salvation Army. She says those organizations will see a reduction in their expenses with the donated food and more fresh produce gets into the hands of their clients.
She adds they encourage everyone to get involved with the program. She says perennials and other flowers look beautiful in our own personal gardens, but there’s no reason edible bush and shrubs can’t be a part of a traditional flower bed.
Reyce says it’s important to teach people how food grows and what can be grown in our climate.
The Fire fighters and Police Officers are growing different vegetables such as carrots and lettuce.
They also have a friendly wager on who can grow the biggest pumpkin by Halloween. The pumpkin pots are set up outside the main entrance on Princess Street West so residents can keep an eye on the race all summer long. The losing organization must bake the winners a pumpkin pie.
