ESTEVAN — The Estevan Community Garden is wrapping up its 10th season, celebrating a decade of growth, community and fresh produce.
Despite facing challenges such as vandalism and critters, the garden continues to thrive and provide for both seasoned and novice gardeners alike.
"We haven't done a whole lot new this year, but we did put in two in-ground beds," said Shayna Burrell, a key organizer of the garden. "They're really nice because they require a lot less maintenance, although the bunnies found them a little easier to access."
This year, the garden featured 19 beds, with 18 gardeners tending to them.
As always, the beds filled up quickly, and the garden maintains a waiting list each season.
"By May, we are usually full," she said.
The 10th anniversary season also brought improvements, such as a recent switch to the city's water, which means the gardeners don't need to worry about hauling water in anymore. They were also able to re-shingle and repaint the garden shed, which had seen some wear over the years.
"We also filled in the bottom where the bunnies and gophers were wearing out the edges," Burrell explained, highlighting the garden's ongoing battle with local wildlife.
However, not all challenges were animal-related. Vandalism has been an unfortunate recurring issue for the community garden.
"It's about the same every year – there are four to five beds where they'll pull out a bunch of things and just throw it on the ground," said Burrell. "They're not even taking it, which is the really unfortunate part."
Despite installing lights, the trouble continues.
Looking ahead, the garden team is optimistic. They're hoping to secure grant funding to replace older beds with sturdier designs and potentially expand.
"We'd like to replace the rest of our old beds, and we're hoping that maybe next year we can get a grant approved and get some money going toward that project," said Burrell.
Despite the hurdles, Burrell expressed her pride in the garden's milestone.
"I'm just really proud that we've made it to 10 years. It's a really great community of people who have a real love for gardening, and they're just some of the kindest people in our city," she said. "Here's to another 10 years."
Gardeners are encouraged to inquire about available beds in February or March, as spots fill up quickly each season. For now, the garden remains a vibrant hub for those seeking both produce and connection in the heart of Estevan.
