The Battlefords has a higher than provincial average rate of diabetes as well as a higher than average rate for hospitalization due to diabetes.
Because of this, Battlefords Family Health Centre has actively sought ways to address the high rates of diabetes in the community. The community garden program is designed to increase the amount of nutritious food available to people, as well as keep families active, educate families on healthy eating and living and to provide supports to families in the community.
All of these are factors that, if addressed, can stop an individual from developing diabetes or to help a person with diabetes live a healthy lifestyle.
The community garden is designed for children and their families. Families have the opportunity to be physically active, to grow nutritious food and learn new ways to cook, enjoy new foods and meet new friends. While being physically active and making healthy food choices, garden participants connect with Mother Earth through land-based learning.
Through participating in a garden project, participants are able to supplement what they purchase from local stores. Participants are able to grow produce items they may not have regularly purchased because of cost.
Participants will learn how to prepare vegetables, increasing their confidence and knowledge so they may continue to purchase and consume these vegetables in the future.
The garden project is seen as an empowering activity because it has brought together people from diverse backgrounds and it enables people to learn new skills, share some of their harvest with friends and neighbours and build self-esteem.
The gardens are also seen as a place participants can gather safely with likeminded people, an especially important benefit for those who feel marginalized or excluded in the larger community.
Participants learn to garden a small plot, which increases physical activity and provides nutritious food. Free tools and knowledge are provided during the daily garden hours staffed by outreach workers.
Families gain knowledge of the natural world and gardening.
Weekly events include a healthy meal and activities to further demonstrate healthy living. The staff host classes on preserving to help participants maintain nutritious eating. The food activities offered are accessible and repeatable.
Participants bring their families to help them garden, to enjoy the outdoors, to play in the children’s play area and to share reverence for what Mother Earth has provided.
This project has converted unused city lots and unused town areas into community gardens.
The garden project is proposal- and partnership-driven. In 2018, BFHC garden project will celebrate its 10th year at the Town of Battleford, Eiling Kramer Campground. BFHC Community Garden Project recently received a grant from Tree Canada CN Eco Connexions to enhance the gardens with fruit bearing shrubs, trees and plants. This grant will improve the greening of urban spaces as well as make edible fruits more available to community members.
Thursday, Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m. community members are invited to come and celebrate the project’s anniversary.
