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Community garden is a growing partnership by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 17 | Friday, September 4, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville-based ArtHouse and Halton Region are using gardening to spark children's creativity while cultivating a love of food. With support from the Region, and partnerships with Halton Food Council (HFC), Halton Community Housing Corporation (HCHC) and Oakville Galleries, ArtHouse's Arts and Garden Education program provides children aged seven to 12 years an opportunity to work on artistic projects and grow their own vegetables and herbs. The weekly collaborative HFC and ArtHouse initiative, which started in May and ends in September, is held at a community garden next to the housing complexes on Margaret and Maurice drives in Oakville. In its second year at that location, the program's activities include weekly fun, arts-oriented activities, and garden-related work, including making garden murals and seedling boxes to get families started with cultivating food. Michael Mikulak, HFC community food network manager, said there is more emphasis on gardening this year, as it was art-driven in 2014 and the four-box plot was a way of "getting people here." HFC added two new four-by-six garden boxes earlier this summer. "There are a lot of kids that will be driven by the art parts and there are a lot of kids driven just by the gardening. By combining the two, we are able to reach a lot more kids and bring down some of those barriers," said Mikulak. To maintain the garden, it "definitely takes work," he said, noting residents will preserve the plants in between the program sessions. Mikulak noted they're currently growing crops such as cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, zucchini, snap peas, purple beans, kale, strawberries, tomatoes and a variety of herbs. "We had a bunch of seeds for them and they picked from different things at the beginning of the season. We try to involve them in the fill process," said Mikulak. ArtHouse founder and artistic director Don Pangman noted this is his group's third season with the program, as it was first launched with St. Jude's Anglican Church, the YMCA of Oakville and Oakville Galleries. "We're a big believer in the arts and improving the lives of young people, giving them opportunities to be creative and bringing confidence and self-esteem to them," said Pangman. "When kids have confidence and self-esteem, they tend to do better in school, they tend to focus on the good things in life, as opposed to some paths they shouldn't be going down." The collaboration was initiated by HCHC, which provided an opportunity to bring an arts program to the Maurice and Margaret drives neighbourhood, Pangman said. "We've had a long relationship with Halton Region, not just from the funding side of things, but also because it is managing this (property). We're trying to talk to as many organizations as possible that are involved in these communities and see if we can get involved from the art side of things," said Pangman. The ArtHouse founder said last year's program went great, as there were about 13-18 children each Michael Mikulak of the Halton Food Council helps Alhassan Awudu, centre, and his twin week. brother Hussein water the community garden at the Margaret Drive community housing This year's turnout is similar, with an average of 10-20 participants at complex. The garden is run by Halton Food Council, in conjunction with ArtHouse and Halton Community House Corporation. | photo by Michael Ivanin - special to the Beaver each session, Pangman said. Save the Date!! Since 1967 upholstery & design Oakville's Best Upholsterer! 2015 Diamond Award Winner Friday, September 25, 2015 Doors open at 6:30pm at the Oakville Conference Centre Live Entertainment · Raffle · Silent & Live Auctions Martini Bar · Gourmet Dinner · Speaker · Dancing ALL INCLUSIVE!! Tickets $175.00 per person (Tax receipts issued for $75.00 each ticket) or $350.00 per couple For more information call (905) 634-2333 Plan to attend this unforgettable evening in support of the programs of BCSS. Breast Cancer Support Services helps women and families in our community living with breast and gynecologic cancers. Sofas · Chairs · Headboards · Throw Pillows · Drapery & Hardware 11-2345 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville · 905.616.3156 · www.baiers.ca