Excitement is growing in Erickson

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Published on Friday, September 4, 2015

Photo by John Drinkwater. View of the Erickson gardens with many of the participants involved.

By John Drinkwater

The Neepawa Banner

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the sun shone on the grand opening of Erickson’s community garden. The raised bed garden plots are located adjacent to the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR) office on 2nd Ave NE.

Don Huisman, president of Services to Seniors (StS) said, “This project began as a partnership between RMBR, StS and the Municipalty of Clanwilliam-Erickson. Biosphere Reserve had the land and the ability to administer it, StS had the responsibility to keep people living independently as long as possible. We successfully applied for a federal New Horizons grant, but were a little slow in getting started, planting not done until the last week of June. You can see how the produce has flourished.” 

Next year we plan to bring in speakers and will involve the high school horticultural class in planting and harvesting.”

Ray Frey, chairman of RMBR said they have had interest from other communities. In fact, Municipality of McCreary reeve Larry McLaughlan and councillor Dave Smith attended the event because their community would like to start their own garden.

Elgin Hall, mayor of the Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson commented, “It’s a positive thing to see people of all ages working in the garden.”

 Photo by John Drinkwater. (L to R): Ray Frey, Don Huisman and Elgin Hall performing the ribbon cutting.