First year Queen's student Ryan Pardy and Moira Secondary student Indigo Christ plant rows upon rows of tomatoes with a smile at Quinte Community Gardens in Trenton. Both were part of a group of thirty four students to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Program, sponsored by area rotary clubs and hosted by Loyalist College. Photo: Gail Paquette
By Gail Paquette
Thirty-four students were up to their elbows in dirt on May 17. They dug trenches, loaded soil and planted rows upon rows of tomatoes. They did it for free and with smiles on their face.
The Quinte West Community Gardens benefitted from their labour.
“It doesn’t take long to plant a garden with this many people.” said Simon Berthiaume, president of the garden’s volunteer association. “ It’s wonderful to have the support of the youth.”
The community garden contains 40 beds and a 100-foot-long greenhouse on city property. It provides fresh produce to more then 8000 low-income earners in the community. Last year volunteers harvested 2000 kilograms, Berthiaume said.
“We have been talking about getting involved in the community all week long,” said Moira Secondary School student Indigo Christ. “Now that we are out here doing it, it’s great.”
Christ was part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, (RYLA) an annual week-long event sponsored by Rotary Clubs within District 7070. The award is to live for one week on campus at Loyalist College in Belleville and attend a leadership training course, all expenses paid by the sponsoring club.
For one week the students, aged 17-25 from Belleville to Toronto set up camp at the college residence, ate at the cafeteria and participated in workshops like leadership, conflict resolution, public speaking and teamwork
Ryan Pardy a first year Queens University student said the experience has been unique and inspiring.
“The best thing was to meet all these people and listen to their stories. Everyone here is different and listening to everyone’s story has been inspiring.
Pardy received a scholarship last year from the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise for his first year at Queen’s. He returned to update the club on his first year of studies and was invited to apply for the leadership awards program.
“I didn’t know about this program or the community gardens,” said the Bayside School graduate. ”But now that I do, I’m going to come back and volunteer more of my time this summer.”