06/05/2026
🌱💚 The Rooted Community Project – Growing More Than Gardens! 💚🌱
Over the past 2 evenings, SchoolsPlus Pictou County has had the privilege of working with community members through our Free Garden Kit program, helping people plant, grow, and learn!
Every participant received a Caja Garden Kit complete with a grow box, soil, transplants, seeds, watering can, and tools. They also went home with herbs, a tomato plant and a blueberry bush! Individuals also had the opportunity to learn valuable gardening skills and gain confidence in growing some of their own food at home. Knowledge that they can share with their families and children!
A huge thank you goes out to our incredible community partners who helped make this project possible:
🌿 Feed Nova Scotia
🌿 Marie's West River Greenhouses
🌿 West River Fire Department Auxiliary
Special thanks to Marie and the wonderful staff at Marie’s West River Greenhouses for providing such an engaging educational experience and for supplying the beautiful plants that helped bring this project to life.
We would also like to recognize Rachel Mass and Alison Ellsworth for their assistance with transporting grow boxes and plants!
A special shout-out goes to the West River Fire Hall for generously making space available for child care if needed. While we were fortunate not to require the service, knowing that support was available helped make this opportunity more accessible for families.
Finally, a huge THANK YOU to SchoolsPlus staff Tracey Austin Parent Navigator, the heart and soul behind this project. From writing grants and coordinating every detail to hauling Caja containers and making sure everything ran smoothly, there wasn't a job she wouldn't tackle. Her passion, leadership, and countless behind-the-scenes efforts made this initiative possible, and we couldn't have done it without her!
Programs like this are a wonderful reminder of what can happen when community partners come together. Thank you to everyone who helped plant the seeds for success—both in the garden and in our community! 🌱☀️
Check out some of the photos snapped over the last 2 evenings!!
