Thursday, July 29, 2010

Compost Garden Party – A Hit!

I attended the first Compost Garden Party put on by the Composting Council of Canada at the Edmonton Food Bank. It was held to celebrate 10 years of the Plant a Row/Grow a Row program and the 29th birthday of the Food Bank.

Touring with Susan Antler across Canada is a new enthusiastic and talented band called Jane’s Party. They performed very lively, cross-generational music that made you want to get up and dance.

We got to sit on our lawn chairs and listen to great music while we were treated to bunwiches, chips, fresh blueberries, cold drinks, and a tour of the Food Bank.

I didn’t realize how large and efficient the Food Bank’s facility is and how many different items it collects and distributes. Before this, all I had seen was the drop-off area where we brought our produce from our Food Bank Garden at the EWMC to be weighed. It is one of the largest in Canada!

The Food Bank, besides being a monthly emergency source of groceries, also educates and directs its clients to grocery wholesalers that are very economical. They also refer clients to the community kitchen program to learn additional skills - they prepare 3 nutritious meals for only $8.00 that they can take home. Also, clients are directed to the more convenient pick-up locations in their local neighbourhoods. Approximately 80% of the workers at the Food Bank are volunteers, without whom the Food Bank would not be able to function.

Watch for this Compost Garden Party next year – we’ll give you more notice. It was so much fun!

Karen LC

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