What an incredible journey it has been over the past ten weeks with Empower Simcoe’s Grow Your Own Way Fee for Service program! Together, we’ve embarked on an amazing gardening adventure, full of planting, nurturing, and learning from some fantastic guest speakers. From cultivating take-home herb gardens to going on an inspiring garden tour, we’ve explored the fundamentals of gardening – from soil and compost to hot and cold crops, and the wonders of companion planting.
As we approached the program’s final day, the excitement was unmistakable as we eagerly awaited the moment to harvest our garden at Empower Simcoe. Each participant proudly welcomed a guest to share in the fruits of their labour and the knowledge they had gained. Setting the stage for a delightful gathering, participants adorned the table with their finest china, and personally selected flowers to add a special touch.
The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the amazing salad created from the bountiful veggies we had grown over the 10-week course, including two varieties of lettuce, peas, green pepper, tomatoes, onion, and vibrant nasturtium flowers. Our culinary creativity also shone through with the addition of homemade salad dressing crafted from the garlic chive tops collected weeks before the showcase event. To complement the feast, we prepared delectable kale chips, roasted turnips, and mouthwatering balsamic glazed carrots.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Community Support Workers Virgina Evers, who stepped in for Angela Carter, and Sherri Beuck, for their invaluable assistance in making this event a success. The dedication and support of our Empower Simcoe Community Support Service team truly made this program a fun and extraordinary experience.
Here’s to many more journeys and discoveries together!