Companies honoured for support of Niagara Garden Network
Healthy growth starts at the roots whether it is in a community or a stalk of corn.
The Niagara Prosperity Initiative (NPI) recognized three businesses for their support of the Niagara Garden Network (NGN) on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at the Hope Centre Community Garden.
Martin Farms Ltd., Stokes Seed Ltd. and Universal Resource Recovery Inc. were recognized for supporting the network of nine community gardens across the region. These businesses supplied plants, seeds, topsoil, compost and mulch for the garden network funded by the NPI.
“For them (NPI projects) to be sustainable we need corporate partners,” said Welland Mayor Damian Goulbourne.
“The NPI is about government, business and the community working together to address and prevent poverty.”
The Hope Centre Community Garden located on the Niagara College Campus provides personal plots for people to grow on, provided they put some time in on the Hope Centre’s vegetable garden at the site. Pat Kemp, executive director of the Hope Centre, said the garden was established three years ago and provides purpose for people who are lacking employment.
According to Kemp, the NPI’s contributions to the garden network have been essential.
“It (the NPI) has been really good because it brought business to the table,” she said, explaining that business contributions have been important to the continued success of the garden.
Wayne Gale, president of Stokes Seeds Ltd., said his company contributes to many similar programs and sees the support as an opportunity to “grow people and grow communities.”
“Give people a garden ... and you breed pride and ownership,” Gale said.
Goulbourne said he hopes the event inspires other businesses help out in a similar fashion.
“I applaud these businesses for stepping up to support the garden network,” said Goulbourne.
In 2010 the NPI provided close to $160,000 in support of the NGN. The NPI is a regional program providing $1.5 million annually in funding to 33 poverty prevention and community support programs across the region.
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