The Growing Place

From the Greenhouse to YOur house

The Crescent Valley Resource Centre has always been passionate about combating food insecurity, and when the opportunity arose to take our programs to the next level by building a greenhouse, we ran with it. With time, the idea grew from a small greenhouse into a full fledged community garden!

By partnering with the City of Saint John, the Dept. of Social Development, the North End Food Bank Association, and ACAP Saint John for support and the The Greater Saint John Community Foundation, the NB Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, NB Dept. of Social Development, NB Dept of PETL and the Environmental Trust Fund for funding, we were able to get this project off the ground. Here we are in 2021, with a beautiful garden space to share with the neighborhood!

The Growing Place Community Garden and Greenhouse is located at 20 Belyea St. in the Crescent Valley neighbourhood. Currently, 42 outdoor raised beds are in place, including seven accessible plots, and these are accompanied by a heated 30’ x 48’ greenhouse containing 26 plots.

Our garden is an education centre open to all, including those outside the CV/Anglin Drive neighbourhood. In addition to welcoming gardeners of all experience levels, we host workshops on a variety of topics such as starting seeds, growing herbs, composting, and preserving. Check the Facebook page for any upcoming events!

The Growing Place has:

• Donated produce to the North End Food Bank;

• Partnered with the local elementary and preschool to include children in activities at the garden;

• Installed an educational pollinator garden to teach why pollinators are an important part of the natural environment;

• Raised and released monarch butterflies;

• Supplied fresh food to participants from food-insecure households; and

• Educated participants around gardening skills, understanding food systems, nutrition, and growing and preparing various types of foods by offering free workshops.

The garden is coordinated by CVRC's Food Security Coordinator, Olivia Clancy. If you have any questions about the garden, please email cvrc.thegrowingplace@gmail.com or call (506) 693-8513.