The gardeners of Kingston’s Bellevue House are participating in the Grow-a-Row campaign this year!  Bellevue house was once home of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister.  Bellevue house features a vegetable garden, and when possible only period tools and historic techniques are used in planting and maintaining this garden.  The gardeners wear costumes typical of working people in the 1840’s.  Bellevue House’s garden has already donated kale, lettuce, and zucchini, and its gardeners anticipate donating beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes in the future.

This week the workbee will happen on Thursday July 15 instead of the usual Tuesday date.  The workbee is being changed to coincide with the Oak Street Community Garden Midsummer party!  This combination event for both garden participants and Loving Spoonful volunteers will have sausages, veggie dogs, and salads.  This is a fantastic opportunity to meet other volunteers and garden enthusiasts!  Please bring your own plates and cutlery.

Daniel Beals was elected the Federal Candidate for the Kingston New   Democrats (www.ndpkingston.org) in September 2009. He considers   himself a dedicated community activist who has chosen to focus on   Kingston’s local economy and community health. This has lead him to   an increased awareness of local food accessibility and cooperative   community ventures like the Grow a Row Campaign. Daniel is also the   Coordinator of the McBurney Park Neighbourhood Association. He lives   in the downtown core with his wife – an avid urban gardener – and 5   year-old son.

Sunnyside Community Garden is a garden run by volunteers in the neighbourhood of Utilities Kingston, Brock St.  It strives to provide educational opportunities for the community, and to enable residents to grow their own food and flowers in a welcoming place.  For three years it has had two gardens dedicated to growing food for Martha’s Table, in addition to the extra produce donated from community members’ gardens.  Grow a Row donations this year have already included spinach, oregano, chives, dill, mint, swiss chard, rhubarb, and snow peas.

http://sunnysidecommunitygarden.blogspot.com

Laura Donefar has been a driving force in Canadian Glass Art for over 20 years, and has loved gardening for even longer.  An internationally renowned glass artist, teacher and diva she lives and creates from her home studio near Harrowsmith, ON.  She is a fierce fan of Kale and that is what she will be growing for Grow a Row.   She challenges all Kingston and area artists to get their hands dirty in the garden for Grow a Row this year.

www.lauradonefar.com