The memory of John McLeod and his passion for food security continues to flourish with the opening of a community garden named in his honour.
With plants already in various stages of growth, the John McLeod Community Garden, located on the city fairgrounds at 490 5th Ave. SW, was officially opened on Thursday, June 6.
The occasion was marked with a few speeches, locally produced food and a sign unveiling, shared by members of the McLeod family, relatives, friends and others who helped make the garden a reality, along with some of the garden's gardeners.
The project was spearheaded by Melanie Bennett, project and volunteer co-ordinator the Shuswap Food Action Society (with which John served as president), in partnership with the Shuswap Agricultural Association.
鈥淭his all鈥� started three years ago, we approached the Shuswap Agricultural Association and asked to build a community garden on the fairgrounds,鈥� said Bennett, explaining the spot initially chosen wasn鈥檛 鈥渜uite right" and, without grant funding, the project at that time was unable to proceed. This year, however, the stars aligned with funding and a new location that was 鈥渕eant to be.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e so lucky 鈥� we鈥檝e got tons of land around us, but not everybody can grow food on it,鈥� said Bennett. 鈥淪o this is really what we need for people in an apartment or a condo, to be able to grow their own food. We have other ideas, more to come, but this was a really good start!鈥�
Mayor Alan Harrison agreed, calling the garden a 鈥渨in,鈥� and something John would approve of.
鈥淔ood security is a big issue everywhere and I knew John McLeod very well. A number of you did,鈥� said Harrison. 鈥淚 grew up beside John, and I could probably tell stories for the next hour, because he was just that kind of guy, and the McLeods were that kind of family. But they were a farming family and they farmed in the valley for over a century. John鈥檚 favourite saying was, they鈥檙e not making any more dirt. Whenever he would come to city hall or there would be a public hearing about something, he鈥檇 say look, they鈥檙e not making more dirt, you have to make sure you protect what you have, and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 happening right here.鈥�
Shuswap Agricultural Association president Phil Wright also shared a bit of local history, involving his and the McLeod families and "all of these pioneer names that are out there that started to build and look after agriculture and鈥� developing Salmon Arm." Wright identified the community garden project as one the agricultural association aims to foster and help grow.
Bennett then proceeded to acknowledge the long list of supporters who helped grow the garden through donations of money, materials and labour, including the McLeod family.
"It was generous and thoughtful that in John鈥檚 passing they would choose to, in lieu of flowers and in his memory, any donations鈥� would go to the Shuswap Food Action Society鈥�," said Bennett. "We want to thank you, it was that memorial account that said 'no, we can do this,' and we are so pleased to be able to do it in his name."
The unveiled sign, created by Axis Pilates, has "John McLeod Community Garden" and the Shuswap Food Action Society's name and logo on the side facing the street, while the side facing the garden reads "Building Community Around Local Food." Another sign inside the garden shares information about the garden's namesake and his legacy, including his involvement with a second garden, the Shuswap Community Teaching Garden in North Broadview, and the city's environmental and agricultural advisory committees.
"John鈥檚 advocacy for food security and food sovereignty as a part of official community plans is a large part of his legacy and one that we continue to work toward, including the creation of this Community Garden," reads the Shuswap Food Action Society's website.
The John McLeod Community Garden's 25 beds, including a wheelchair accessible one, have all been registered, though people may still apply and be on the wait list. For more information, visit shuswapfood.ca.
