CORNWALL, Ontario – The City of Cornwall approved $1,000 in matching funds from the City’s horticultural budget to go towards the creation of an edible garden around the Bandshell in Lamoureux Park this spring.
Council approved the motion after a presentation from Alain D’Aoust of the Edible Cities Project about the group’s plans for the Bandshell.
D’Aoust explained that the goal of the project would not be to build gardens that required a lot of maintenance, but rather, that were self-sustaining.
“One misconception is we’re looking to plant edible gardens around town . . . that is not the case,” D’Aoust told Council.
D’Aoust claims that the installations will require less effort over time and will achieve this by trying to mimic a natural ecosystem.
Edible Cities’ plan for the site would involve installing fruit trees, berries and herbs on the west side of the bandshell, which receives more sunlight, and perennial vegetables and leafy greens on the east side, which is more protected from the wind.
Behind the Bandshell, 10 planter boxes have already been installed that will be used to grow herbs, small fruit, edible flowers and nursery stock.
D’Aoust addressed possible concerns around the project, including vandalism.
“I think if we look at the ornamental landscapes we have around town and I think they are very rarely vandalized,” he said. “The risk will always be there. I firmly believe that in a community that participates, the bullies are eventually bullied out.”
D’Aoust envisions this site becoming an educational location for students in the community who want to learn more about horticulture and sustainable ecosystems.
He hopes that this pilot project will lead to other edible projects. One example of a possible future edible project raised by D’Aoust was edible installations along the bike paths.
