One kilometer from Sproule Lumber, the J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) sawmill in Valley, NS, is Judy's Garden of Hope, a garden to support the local food bank. Several weeks ago, Corey Bartlett, the Dry End Supervisor at the mill came across a posting on Facebook asking for lumber donations to build a raised garden bed. Within a few days a truck was sent to Judy's Garden of Hope with a load of lumber to build the new beds and a truckload of mulch. 

"Partnering and help from the local business communities has been absolutely vital in us actually starting the garden and maintaining and expanding in the future. Without our community partners we wouldn't have been able to do as much as we have been able to do," says Brenda Theakston, Coordinator and Youth Mentor.

The garden started in 2015 in memory of a local who passed away from cancer. The garden started with 5 raised beds, it's now up to 8 with as many as 15 new beds being put in this summer along with a new well and shed. The garden, which is tended by volunteers, has relied solely on donations from the community until this year when a grant was received from the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada.

If you're looking to help reach out to Brenda Theakston, Coordinator and Youth Mentor.

judysgardenofhope@gmail.com