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Mill Lake Community Garden | August 13, 2010
City after Pepsi grant
The City of Abbotsford has partnered with Abbotsford Connected Neighbourhoods to take a different type of Pepsi Challenge,
The two groups have made a $25,000 grant application through the Pepsi Refresh Project – an online grant program that awards monetary grants for community improvement projects across the country every two months.
“We are competing online against other communities to win $25,000 for Abbotsford,” said Mayor George Peary.
“If our application is successful, the money from Pepsi will be transferred into home improvement grants of $1,000 each for eligible Abbotsford households.”
Pepsi awards its Refresh Project grants through an online voting system where the public is encouraged to view the applications, and then vote for the project they feel will have the greatest impact.
“We initially presented this to council because we felt it fit in with our good neighbour program,” said city manager Frank Pizzuto.
The good neighbour program encourages cleaning up residential areas and cutting down on bylaw infractions.
While the city has agreed to enter the competition, there is no affiliation with the soft drink company.
“There are no requirements or conditions to enter,” assured Pizzuto.
Abbotsford’s grant application, titled Abbotsford Front Porch Pride, can be supported online on the Pepsi website www.refresheverything.ca/frontporchproject.
Supporters can vote for the Front Porch Pride project once per day until Oct. 31.
Mill Lake Community Garden
In Spring of 2009, Kayla Feenstra began looking for a space for a community garden in the urban area of Abbotsford where she could grow some vegetables and herbs, as her apartment balcony did not afford the space or the light. Not finding any urban community gardens, a good friend of hers spurred her on to think about starting one herself. She researched some plots in the downtown area of Abbotsford, and after various leads fell flat, she decided to step outside of downtown and look elsewhere, still within the urban area. After speaking with Parks and Recreation at City of Abbotsford, City generously offered to lend land at Mill Lake for the purposes of a community garden.
Located on Adanac and Alta, Mill Lake Community Garden is situated in a quiet, off-the-path area that is still highly accessible and highly visible. Almost 15,000 square feet of land is currently being prepared for tilling so use for gardening can begin in Spring 2011! A shed was built on site last week, and a split rail fence will soon be constructed. Tilling and organic soil treatment will prepare for a winter crop, which will be plowed under in the early spring.
We are very excited to partner with amazing community organizations to provide the community with access to space to garden, education on gardening and food and water issues, connection, and community. Plots will be leased out at $20 per season, with a $15 deposit. Applications are available by contacting milllakecommunitygarden@gmail.com or 604.855.2624. All proceeds from applications will be used to purchase supplies, tools, organic materials, seeds, perennial plants and shrubs, and other needed items.
If you already have space to garden, we encourage you to utilize that space. If you need assistance in planning, plotting, or planting and maintenance, contact Kayla at dragonlilygardens@gmail.com or 604.855.2624. Also, send your contact information if you are interested in hearing about community gardening seminars.
We are looking for Committee members, volunteers, and sponsors. If you or your organization is interested in finding out more, contact milllakecommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Happy Gardening!
