With a few feet of snow on the frozen February ground, it's hard to picture heavily-laden tomato and cucumber vines planted in moist earth just now.
Once the snow melts, residents of Finlandia Village will be able to grow their own vegetables thanks to a $25,000 grant from the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors program.
At a Feb. 9 press conference, Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre announced small grants adding up to about $150,000 that will be spread out over several local organizations that serve seniors.
The goal of the federal program is to empower seniors, encourage them to share their knowledge, skills and experience with others in the community, and enhance seniors' social well-being and community vitality.
David Munch, CEO of Finlandia Village, said the seniors' complex will be building raised, accessible garden beds for its residents with its Kasvava Garden Initiative.
“A lot of the seniors that are in Finlandia Village now grew up on farms, grew up in rural communities, grew up with gardens in their backyards,” Munch said.
“What better way to get your hands dirty and be active?”
Other New Horizons for Seniors grants handed out Friday include:
- Art Gallery of Sudbury, Art on the Go for Seniors project, $25,000
- Parkside Older Adult Centre, door repairs, $25,000
- Science North, All About Insects: Science For Seniors, $24,700
- L'Arche Sudbury, Sage and Time Art Project, $24,800
- City of Greater Sudbury, Pickleball Courts, $24,000
Lefebvre said the grants go towards projects that encourage seniors' participation in the community.
“It has a long-lasting effect not only their physical health, but their mental health as well,” he said. “Everybody benefits.”
