If you're looking to get growing in a new community garden with some built-in security, an information night next week will give you an opportunity to find out how to get involved - from the ground up.
The Port Moody Winter Farmers Market and Port Moody Police Department's Green Team are partnering to create the garden in the vacant lot beside the public safety building - that's police HQ - on St. Johns Street, and hope to have plants in the ground later this spring.
"Fingers crossed, if everything goes as planned, we're hoping for May," said Tabitha McLoughlin, executive director of the Coquitlam Farmers Market Society. "That's plenty of time to have all the infrastructure in place and for people to come in there and start gardening."
There will be about 40 garden plots, each measuring 9x3x3 feet, which should be enough space to provide a family with fresh produce throughout the summer growing season.
"It's all in how you design it," McLoughlin said, "and we're going to have workshops so you know how to do that."
The first workshop, slated for April 6, will cover the basics of what to grow according to the climate, how to stagger crops and more.
An orientation session for registered gardeners will also cover gardening without the use of chemicals, how to use compost properly and the use of native versus non-native plants.
Work parties are set to begin in April to build the raised beds, spread soil and build the compost area.
At next week's information meeting, interested gardeners can discuss garden layout, volunteer opportunities and items that need to be donated.
The information meeting is on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at Port Moody's public safety building, 3051 St. Johns St.
