North-end Halifax community garden sprouts up in new location

"It's totally turned around from two years ago when we were very sad about losing our garden but now it's looking really good," says chair of the community group.

Prescott Street Community Garden unveils new site after fundraising effort

Gareth Hampshire · CBC News · Posted: May 07, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 7

Halifax community garden sprouts up in new location

2 days ago

2:10

The Prescott Street Community Garden Society raised money for the new site after having to leave its old plot. Gareth Hampshire has the story.

Members of a Halifax community garden are getting their hands in the dirt again after moving to a new location.

The Prescott Street Community Garden Society is putting down roots at Merv Sullivan Park on Novalea Drive after having to leave its original location next to Halifax Water's reservoir in the city's north end.

The group raised about $14,000 to pay for materials such as new soil and raised beds they have now installed.

"It's totally turned around from two years ago when we were very sad about losing our garden but now it's looking really good," said Judy Flora, the organization's chair.

A woman is shown sitting down in a chair next to a wooden garden shed with forks, rakes and shovels propped against the wall. — Prescott Street Community Garden chair Judy Flora is shown by the shed that was built by carpentry students from the NSCC. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

The non-profit had maintained its garden on Prescott Street for about 20 years, but the area is now fenced off as part of upgrades and security measures to the property by Halifax Water.

However, the utility is donating two large water tanks to the new location, Flora said.

The society has also received grants from the province and Halifax Regional Municipality to cover about half of its relocation costs. Carpentry students from the Nova Scotia Community College also built the shed at the new location.

"It's really been a great thing," Flora said.

A woman is standing next to raised garden beds holding up a shovel. — Byungmin Kang says members have worked hard to transform what used to be a grassy area into a new community garden. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

Last week, members of the community garden got together to fill the raised beds with soil delivered by truck.

"It feels really good that everyone's here together," said Byungmin Kang, who likes to grow tomatoes, peppers and greens. "We all started from scratch together from an empty field."

With the larger space, there are plans to build a total of about 40 raised beds including a number of accessible ones.

A woman is shown next to a row of raised beds holding a shovel she is moving dirt into the beds with. — Carole Konesky is looking forward to sharing her crops with other members of the community garden. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

There were about 25 raised beds at the previous location.

Moving so much soil took a lot of work but members are happy to be back in the garden along with family and friends helping out.

"There's always people to talk to and it becomes social because we have little get-togethers and cook and share our recipes and share our food," said Carole Konesky.

Fundraising will continue as the group continues to grow the site while members plan what they are going to plant this season.

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