By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – After taking root in 2013, the Incredible Edible Festival has sprouted into an annual tradition at the Justice Building on Pitt Street.
The festival’s third edition will offer plenty of free, family-centered activities focused on growing fresh food on Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We rely on food from faraway places, while local green areas of land are underused,” said Penny Bateman, a member of the Transition Cornwall + Food Action Group.
“Why not put some of our green spaces to more productive use? We’ll have the pleasures of growing and eating fresh local food, even as we help our community become more food secure.”
Led by Transition Cornwall+ (a working group of the Cornwall Social Development Council), the downtown festival is supported by the City of Cornwall and numerous other organizations and volunteers.
Bateman encourages community members to join them during the event in planting vegetables and herbs in downtown sites such as the fire station. The public is welcome to pick from the gardens for free over the summer.
To encourage new gardeners of all ages, Transition Cornwall+ and Marlin Orchards have donated hundreds of free veggie plants to be distributed.
According to Bateman, the containers of cherry tomato, green beans, chard, or sweet pepper plant will thrive on a sundrenched patio, balcony or doorstep, or in a bright garden corner.
Local experts will be on-site to answer questions about edible organic gardening. And live music is also in the mix.
Youngsters can sprout a green thumb at the kids’ gardening and food preparation workshops, provided by Growing Up Organic and the Seaway Valley Community Health Centre. Face-painting and kids’ garden crafts will also be taking place on-site.
“It’s a family event – bring strollers, bikes, a picnic, and recycled bags to take home veggie plants,” said Bateman.
For more information, transitioncornwall.com.
