Garden at PBPCA and Nellie McClung School
During my wanderings through PBP neighborhoods, I find it interesting to see new landscaped yards created by property owners. Well designed and constructed landscape projects require much thought, time, and effort (and money) to construct and maintain new gardens. So, you may be interested in the new “Indigenous garden” that is being planned by students and teachers at Nellie McClung School.
Staff and students at Nellie McClung are undertaking design and development of a new “Indigenous garden” located at the front of the PBPCA office. The new garden is to be a student project. Plans for the garden will include selections of plants and flowers native to Alberta and used by Indigenous peoples as sources of food and medicine. As well, Indigenous graphic designs may be applied to the three (new) planter boxes. Consultants from Indigenous communities may be retained to explain and guide the students in the history, selection, uses, and identities of native plants and flowers. Selected examples of these native plants may be included in the garden.
Students and staff at Nellie McClung began a similar project in the spring of 2021. Native plants were selected and planted in the “heart garden” located in front of the existing mural. However, summer heat and drought conditions were not kind to the plants. With luck, good timing, and the existing irrigation system, the new Indigenous garden should be successful.
The new project materialized as a result of PBPCA’s unsuccessful “community enhancement” project, which was to have been finished in late summer 2021. Due to setbacks and missed opportunities, the three planter boxes remained without a home. At about the same time, Nellie McClung School was considering a themed garden project and approached PBPCA to request the existing garden space adjacent to the front entrance to our facility. Discussions were arranged between Nellie McClung School and PBPCA and agreements reached. PBPCA offered the three planter boxes, including planting soil, and Nellie McClung School agreed to locate the boxes within the existing community garden. Also, PBPCA arranged to have the garden cleaned, weeded, and pruned, ready for redevelopment. The garden space, the planters, and planting soil were offered as support for the “Indigenous garden” project by Nellie McClung School.
So next time you are out and about in your neighborhood, watch for activity in the new garden. Student groups may be at work, creating a new look to our front yard. PBPCA appreciates the enthusiasm and efforts by the students and staff of Nellie McClung School!
We look forward to an enhanced front entrance to our facilities.
Dave Illsey, Director
