Gardening Containers

Gardening Containers

Harrington Harbour CLC
Joyce Foreman

Harrington Harbour is a small island off the coast of the Lower North Shore of Quebec.  The growing season is very short and there is not a lot of green space for gardening since the topography is Canadian Shield, featuring a lot of rock. Students decided to address the lack of plantation by building gardening containers and placing them around the community. Two main benefits include beautifying the village and engaging the community members in a collaborative project. The engagement was of utmost importance during the summer when the school is closed and the containers would need to be watered. Future goals would include growing vegetables to help support healthy food choices.

The project was linked to the curriculum in science through the study of plant growth and in technology was incorporated through the building of the planters.

According to teacher Joyce Foreman, This project met a community need because there is a strong interest in gardening within the community. As the climate changes, gardening is becoming a more and more viable activity. The beautification of the community can only help the tourism industry. This project also allows for the interaction between the generations, for example when the 50 + Club helped the youth build four planters. The United Church helped bring two groups together to build the planters and various businesses around the small island agreed to have a planter placed at their establishment with the promise that they would help maintain it.

To learn more about the project, click here.