For those strolling through Crescent Park in the summer, seeing the park’s flower beds filled with colourful blooms is totally expected, but one of the city-maintained garden beds is breaking the norm this summer with an arrangement of vegetables instead.
Located on the path that curves behind the park’s outdoor tennis courts, the garden bed includes several different types of edible plants, arranged to be as aesthetically pleasing as a bed full of flowers.
“We wanted to show that ornamental doesn’t have to exclude veggies,” said Sarah Regent, parks gardener for the City of Moose Jaw.
The arrangement includes purple basil, kale, hot peppers and cherry tomato plants, as well as sunflowers whose seeds can be consumed, pansies which have edible flowers, and a variety of corn that produces coloured kernels that can be cooked like popcorn.
The veggies have been thriving, said Regent, and people are welcome to stop by and pick some of the produce as the season continues — in moderation of course.
“It is in a public space so we do expect people to do some sampling out of it and that’s fine with us, as long as people are being respectful with it,” said Regent. “Absolutely go check it out, taste a little bit, give it a try.”
This is the first year that the city has planted veggies in the park, and Regent said the department is considering expanding the veggie project to a few more locations next year if she sees enough interest.
“So right now we don’t have any plans for the produce. That will depend on what’s left [at the end of the season],'” said Regent. “And options are kind of open, it's sort of a test project for this year.”
Part of the project was meant to increase interest in growing fruits and vegetables, to help promote food security for residents curious about gardening.
“We wanted to bring awareness because a lot of people think of gardens are just these ornamental spaces that maybe aren't always practical, in a way, and we really wanted to show that we can grow our own food here and we can grow a lot of different foods here,” said Regent.
Regent is finding the response from the community has been positive so far, with plenty of people stopping by to check out the unique public garden bed.
She encourages Moose Jaw to continue to visit the edible garden bed — and reminds everyone to wash your veggies, especially if they came from your local park.
