The YMCA of Greater Moncton is one of several groups that got funding to create edible public gardens.
Vice President of Health, Fitness and Community Services Dave Theriault says they’ve planted trees and bushes to produce apples, cherries and blueberries to start.
“There’s a lot of good things about community gardens, first and foremost it’s therapeutic, it gets people out, you get your hands dirty,” says Theriault. “There’s a lot of pride in having something you helped grow, and you know, just being out in nature and the environment.”
Sue Calhoun is one of 75 gardeners involved in growing food at the YMCA saying public gardens like this help everyone from the well off to the homeless.
“I think it’s what we should be doing, and there’s a lot of people walking around who are hungry, and I think this is absolutely the direction to go,” says Calhoun.
She says it’s great to see all the community based initiatives like this, so people can come by, grab an apple, and chat with other folks.
Calhoun says the trees and bushes aren’t producing fruit at the moment, but she expects them to do so within a few years.
