A Partnership between Port Arthur Rotary Club and the Salvation Army Thunder Bay
Project Concept: Develop a combination Vegetable Garden-Recreational Area on vacant north side lot of the Salvation Army Men’s Hostel, North Cumberland Street. Rotarians are partnering with the administration and residents of the Salvation Army, community organizations such as the Food Security Research Network, and many local businesses to achieve this goal. As the garden develops, the residents will take over ongoing care and nurturing.
Goals: The veggie garden will supply a large percentage of fresh vegetables for the resident’s immediate use (full service cafeteria and kitchen on site) as well as their own Food Bank. The recreational area (basketball court et al) will provide important exercise opportunities, not otherwise met, for long term residents.
An Opportunity for the Community: We are inviting interested businesses to contribute to the start-up of this project. This can be in the way of in kind donations, services/merchandise at cost, or even human resources. All contributions will be suitably acknowledged.
Interested parties: Please contact: Chairs Kevin Holloway (cell:628-2818; tbaytel%23net|holloway), Art Warwick (cell: 621-2102; tbaytel%23net|awarwick), or club President David Legge (983-2155; tbaytel%23net|dlegge).
December 17and December 21, 2010
Past President David Legge is pleased to announce that the large sign naming the Field of Greens as a joint project of Rotary and The Salvation Army has been installed at the Field of Greens site. Thanks to Rotarian Rene St. Jacques for the installation done earlier Friday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, a work party of David Legge, David Silliman and Kevin Holloway put the finishing touches of paint on the wooden supports for the Field of Greens Sign
The Garden and its produce:
 | Some of the Rotarians who have helped with the Field of Greens Project:Mary Anne Commuzi, President Dave Silliman, Past President David Legge, Joe Vanderwees, President-Elect Kevin Holloway, Major Merv Halvorsen. Sept 2010 |
 | - Harvesting the produce from the left Club President Dave Silliman, Rotarian Joe Vanderwees, Sept 2010 |
 | The garden in late July 2010 with one of the newly planted apple trees in the foreground and the gazebo that we moved in the background. |
 | The garden during late July 2010 showing rows of cabbage, onions, celery |
 | Rotarian and residents of the Salvation Army Hostel working the potato patch during late June 2010. From the left Rotarian Alex Matiece, Joe Vanderwees and 3 residents. |
President Dave advised the membership that there is still time for Rotarians and Friends to donate to this project.
He also mentioned that he was looking for suggestions to make the area more secure. Because it is such as open area, vehicles can drive right up into the site and cause damage to the area. The Earth Boxes are also very accessible and susceptible to theft.
Kevin Holloway, through Vanderwees Greenhouses and Thunder Bay Co-op, are planning to move forward on the deer fence. More information will follow.
Joe Vanderwees reported that the vegetables are doing extremely well!
SCHEDULED EVENTS
| Rotary Work Party Saturday May 15
| A great job done Saturday by Rotarians and Salvation Army Staff & Residents!
On Saturday May 15 the following Rotarians assisted planting potatoes, digging and planting fruit trees at the Salvation Army site. They worked from 10 to 12:30, some came back for another hour at 3 pm. Lunch was provided by the Sally Ann. Chris Bailey, Jim Colquhoun, Mary Anne Commuzzi, Bill Everitt, Merv Halvosen, Joe Vanderwees, Doug Thom, David Silliman, Kevin Holloway, Joe McEachern, John Stewart, Laurie Tulloch, Art Warwick. In addition, joining in the work were 18 staff or residents of the Salvation Army, and 6 staff or residents of the Salvation Army Habitat program. ( We have all the names documented thanks to Doug Thom). Also a good number of the residents did some hole preparation and earth leveling earlier in the week. |
