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All About GO-VEG

In Ottawa, the Growing Up Organic project has focused on community engagement with local organic production. The first task was to create a community garden as a learning centre for kids in the downtown community of The Glebe. The site of what has become known as GO-VEG, or Glebe Organic Vegetable Garden, is a heavily used playing field belonging to the local public school. This greenspace not only services the 390 kids at Mutchmor PS, but also the adjacent Catholic elementary school, the Glebe Community Centre, the Glebe Parents Daycare, a soccer league, and the city's community ice rink.

With space at a premium, we limited the garden to three raised beds, measuring 3 x 8 ft. each. This width is ideal for little arms trying to reach in to pick a tomato, or water a bean seed. And the stacking of two rows of whole cedar logs for the bed frames, gives a wide enough edge for little bottoms to sit on.

The day after school ended, we were on site with logs, 4 year old composted manure from local organic farm Alpenblick, dozens of shovels, spades and pick axes, ready to turn the compacted surface into rich and fertile growing beds. By day's end, we'd had over 35 children, daycare workers, camp counselors, parents, caregivers and interested passers-by join in and complete the construction.

Four weeks later, we are seeing the first fruits developing on the zucchinis and tomatoes, the basil is plump and inviting, and the beans and shallots have sprouted and joined the growing frenzy.

 From the outset, the goal of the garden was to engage the community in a hands-on growing experience, that would provide opportunities for us to educate consumers about the benefits of organically grown food, the local food system and our capacity to facilitate procurement of locally grown organic food.

 To achieve this, we have worked with the community centre’s staff to develop activities for campers and counselors, including planting, cultivating, harvesting and eating the produce they have helped to grow. We have brought in other locally grown organic produce to share with them, and have coordinated the use of the garden produce in cooking classes to be offered by a local caterer at the community centre this fall.

However, the most rewarding achievement of GO-VEG, is the serendipity of making fruitful connections, as illustrated by Alex Clarke, a 9 year old boy who lives down the street, and attends Mutchmor PS. Alex wandered into the field the day of the bed-raising, grabbed a shovel, and started digging. The next morning, he set his alarm for 8am to be sure he was back in the field in time to unload the compost. “This is way more interesting than watching TV,” he and his 5 year old sister Kelly agreed. The July 1st long weekend, he constructed a wooden stake and twine barrier to protect the new beds, and patrolled the field every day.

However, the most rewarding achievement of GO-VEG, is the serendipity of making fruitful connections, as illustrated by Alex Clarke, a 9 year old boy who lives down the street, and attends Mutchmor PS. Alex wandered into the field the day of the bed-raising, grabbed a shovel, and started digging. The next morning, he set his alarm for 8am to be sure he was back in the field in time to unload the compost. “This is way more interesting than watching TV,” he and his 5 year old sister Kelly agreed. The July 1st long weekend, he constructed a wooden stake and twine barrier to protect the new beds, and patrolled the field every day.

 Alex has been invited to attend COG-Ottawa’s annual Feast of Fields this September, as a young farmer and chef. Under the guidance of a daycare cook, he will harvest and prepare food from GO-VEG, to be tasted by the gastronomically inclined attendees. It just so happens that Alex has always talked of becoming a chef. At this event, he will be rubbing shoulders with the top chefs in Ottawa, and will have the chance to sample local organic food prepared in their kitchens.

 Now that alone, makes Growing Up Organic a successful project.