Carleton’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is moving forward with their new community garden on campus.
The Kitigànensag community garden was moved from its original location by the university in October 2013 because of plans to build a new residence on the site. Through negotiations with the GSA, Carleton has agreed to give the GSA a patch of land behind Nesbitt Building for the garden’s relocation.
“Things are moving along, which is really exciting,” said Justine Mallah, GSA vice-president (operations).
The new space will be approximately the same size as the old one was, according to Darryl Boyce, Carleton’s vice-president (facilities management and planning).
“The GSA was extensively consulted in the process of relocation. They were objecting strongly to the new location of the garden and there was a number of consultations that were done through the winter,” Boyce said. “There were discussions and they then met with our department of facilities management and planning to work out the details.”
The new space will require changing the design plan, according to Mallah, but it is opening up new possibilities.
“There will be an aboriginal ceremony circle, which is exciting, and potentially no fence, which is a difference from the older plan. It’s not going to be exactly the same,” she said.
The ceremony circle will potentially be a space in the garden for knowledge sharing and for presentations, Mallah said.
“Anything will be grown, from tomato plants to sunflowers, and we hope that the garden will be a place for students, faculty, and staff at Carleton to come together to learn about food security, to learn about local foods, and have a chance to access some delicious fruits and vegetables,” she said.
According to Boyce, the shed and raised planting beds for the garden have been moved to the new location, and the garden is ready to be used as soon as the GSA works out some minor problems with how the contractors who completed the move left the space.
“We’re looking to solve those, but it can be used at any time,” Boyce said.
The GSA is planning on opening the garden in time for the next growing season.
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