Introducing Blueberry Fields
Oakville Upper Shopping Centre’s
“Blueberry Fields Community Garden” Announces it is Partnering with Home Suite Hope
Fresh New Take on Urban Agriculture Bolsters Access to Healthy Foods for Lower-Income Families Supported by Home Suite Hope
Friday, April 15, Oakville, ON — “Blueberry Fields” is one of those projects that comes along once in a lifetime. The Upper Oakville Shopping Centre and Home Suite Hope today announced the launch of the Blueberry Fields Community Garden, a fresh, new take on urban gardening designed to benefit the families supported by Home Suite Hope, a local charitable organization that assists precariously housed single parent families in Halton.
With its focus on helping community, the Upper Oakville Shopping Centre wanted to create something that would give back to others who can really use the help, while also engaging the entire community. The brainchild of long time site superintendent, Ken Stockstill, the Blueberry Fields Community Garden located in the Northwest corner of the shopping centre, reclaims 5,000 sq. ft. of unused land for a real communal benefit. The volunteer-based garden program is a match made in heaven for local gardeners whose green thumbs are itching for a great way to make a difference, and for anyone who wants to try their hand at communal gardening.
“I was sold on Home Suite Hope as soon I heard about the work it is doing,” says Stockstill. Ken, a local urban farmer with years of agricultural gardening experience under his belt, has been at UOSC for 13 years as the site superintendent. His background in gardening and agriculture is a long held avocation. Ken started cutting lawns when he was just 11 years old.
“Urban gardening is a huge passion for me and that seemed like the best way for me to help the families at Home Suite Hope. Blueberry Fields will be a completely organic garden with all items grown being donated to the charity. Weather permitting, we hope to launch the garden with a formal ground breaking on May 14th, 2016” he says.
The garden already contains over four dozen blueberry plants. It will have 16 raised beds of approximately 150 sq. ft. each with pathways throughout. This will make it easier to plant, water, weed and harvest. The garden will use composted manure as fertilizer and will utilize natural methods for pest and weed control. One bed will be dedicated to local school kids as their own little grow space. People can volunteer their time to assist with planting, weeding and watering – it’s all greatly appreciated.
“This is a truly original concept and we are delighted that UOSC chose to partner with our organization,” said Home Suite Hope CEO Michelle Pommells. “The Blueberry Fields Garden will likely double our families access to fresh produce during the growing season. With the dramatic rise in food prices, having access to the garden’s healthy produce is going to make a real difference to our families’ wallets, not to mention their nutrition and health,” she stated.
“When Ken told me about Home Suite Hope, I immediately wanted more information,” said Upper Oakville Shopping Centre’s Property Manager Megan Richardson. “Once I started reading about Home Suite Hope, I knew they were the perfect fit for UOSC and Blueberry Fields”
Upper Oakville Shopping Centre
Upper Oakville Shopping Centre is located at the north east corner of Upper Middle Road and Eighth Line in Oakville. UOSC has been a proud partner in the Iroquois Ridge and Joshua’s Creek communities for the past 30 years. With more than 50 shops, services and restaurants, UOSC has everything our neighbours need for their daily lives.
Home Suite Hope
Home Suite Hope is a registered charity based in Oakville, Ontario that provides long-term transitional housing and a broad range of wrap-around social services for homeless single parent families in the Halton region. For more information, please visit www.homesuitehope.org.