CORNWALL, Ontario- The Incredible Edible Plant Festival sprouted up between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 26 at the Justice Building Plaza. This is the sixth year of the festival.
“I see this as a mission for promoting urban gardening,” said Patty Lucey, a gardening instructor with Canadian Organic Growers. Lucey educates people living in urban centers about organic vegetable production, showing them how to utilize unlikely gardening spaces, like fire escapes.
According to Bill Carriere, a volunteer with Transition Cornwall+ (TC+), the family oriented event has annually encouraged achievable gardening techniques. The event was put on by the Food Action Group within TC+ this year, which was formed in 2013. Other efforts within TC+ include promoting awareness of carbon footprints and planting trees.
“One of the key features is the plant giveaway,” said Carriere. “We pot up these plants in a way that people don’t have to take it out of the pot. They can grow it in the pot year round. We’re largely thinking of people who might not have a gardening space, like people who might live in an apartment or just have a balcony.”
Some of the plants that were given away were grown in Carriere’s personal greenhouse. Others were provided by Marlin Orchards and Garden Centre. Some of theplants included tomatoes, beans, spinach, sweet peppers and herbs. The City of Cornwall donated compost and TC+ was given a grant for soil.
“All the plants that are potted up that don’t get taken, we pass them on to community gardens. Nothing gets wasted,” said Carriere.
Carriere estimates that about 30 volunteers came out to help.
“Everything is absolutely free. The plants, the advice. And the rain,” Carriere joked.
