The gardens are now closed. The school property was sold by the municipality, over the objections of a community group that wished to save it for all of us to use.
This page is being left here as a legacy to the great work that was done by the volunteers and kids to build a wonderful, organic garden that taught the kids how to plant and care for food-giving plants and then how to bake pizzas with the produce that they nurtured.
It seems that one of the most popular activities for participants in the Horse Boy program is riding through the woods to the old Blockhouse School playground, over the pea gravel in the playground area, then past their reflections in the school windows and on to the grassy fields surrounding the school. It has led to new levels of awareness, confidence and social interaction.
The Therapeutic Garden Gets Started 2014
In an effort to expand that valuable interaction, Hinchinbrook and the Mahone Bay Farmer’s Market – headquartered at the Blockhouse School (which is no longer a functioning school but home to a community hub as well as the Mahone Bay Farmers Market) – built a sheltered growing area with raised garden beds.
The project, dubbed ‘We Dig Food’, will provide short and long-term benefits to those on the autism spectrum through the establishment of a therapeutic market garden. The intention is to give these children a safe and valued place to interact with nature, to learn how to grow food and to taste fresh vegetables that they nurture from seed to harvest.
Now, after a summer of sunshine and TLC from folks that included (in this photo) MP Gerald Keddy, the veggies are ready for harvesting. This picture also shows the multi-use aspect of the garden, with our riders and staff taking in the carma.
One of our riders, Olivia, won second prize in the sunflower growing contest by Shur-Gain.
Here is the We Dig Food Brochure for the project.
To read more about therapeutic gardens, check out this article>>Garden Therapy-Rustik
Our 2014 report for the We Dog Food project is at this link>>