Blue River’s Community Garden is an inspiration to other communities according to North Thompson Communities Foundation Director Cheryl Thomas who recently visited the garden while attending the grand opening of the Pedestrian Suspension Bridge there.
“Isn’t this wonderful? It’s just an amazing place to walk through. Veggies and flowers growing everywhere, hand painted signs, people enjoying their lunches in seating areas within the garden. It even has a beautiful screened in gazebo with comfy seats. I could enjoy reading a good book sitting in there myself,” Thomas said.
The Blue River Community Garden was funded by the North Thompson Communities Foundation and a number of other funding initiatives when current Area “B” (Thompson Headwaters) TNRD Director Lee Onslow applied for and received initial funding to help kick start the garden from the NTCF.
“The garden is something our whole community is proud of,” Onslow told a gathering recently at the Clearwater Elks Hall there to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the North Thompson Communities Foundation. “We are so thankful to the NTCF for helping us with this project ongoing. The kids in the elementary school in Blue River actually grow the seedlings to start the garden now each year inside the school and later on come out to help weed and care for the plants. They love it,” she said.
Community members are welcome to come weed, enjoy the seats and picnic, use the gazebo or pick and utilize any of the vegetables available any time they choose. It’s open to all residents. The garden is fenced to keep out unwanted predators and each raised wooden garden box has a hand-painted sign attached with a cute saying or family name. The gazebo is screened in and is furnished with comfy chairs, a rock snake that is being added to with painted rocks from the kids and others welcomes gazebo visitors. Community members come and go, taking care of the plants and flowers or just visiting in outside chairs or strolling through.
The community welcomes you to stop by and have a look if you are passing through. Onslow says, “Everyone is welcome. It’s a beautiful garden space and we are pretty proud of it.”
