Cornwall, Ontario – Transition Cornwall+ Food Action Group is excited to present Incredible Edible Plant Give-Away: On the Road.  The event has been scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30^th, from 11am-1pm, at ten participating locations across Cornwall.

For the TC+ Food Action Group, the month of May usually announces their famous Incredible Edibles Plant Festival.  The annual event, now in its 7^th year, celebrates fruit and vegetable gardening at home, and has featured various activities over the years including a free plant give-away, expert workshops, and community garden planting around City Hall and most recently at Lamoureux Park. 

Due to physical distancing restrictions, TC+ was forced to postpone their large gardening celebration and wait to relaunch in 2021.   But what to do with over 1500 seedlings planted in February for the free plant give-away?  

“In late March, we decided to reimagine our event and find a way to still offer the plant give-away in Cornwall,” explains Penny Bateman, TC+ Food Action Group Chair.  “Several group members had already started the special event seedling and we didn’t want their efforts to go to waste.  We were also seeing a growing interest in home gardening across the community and figured we could help new gardeners get started.”

As a first step, TC+ contacted the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and the City of Cornwall to outline the plans and work to develop some special event guidelines to ensure public and volunteer safety.  

“It was critical to have everyone on board from the start,” says Ms. Bateman.  “The last thing we wanted was to put people in our community at risk.  We have a clear plan for safely giving away the free seedlings and seeds.”

Community residents are welcome to visit any one of the 10 “pop-up” plant give-away stations scheduled for Friday and Saturday.  Upon arrival, guest will be asked to form a line towards the tent by following the social distancing markers.  In turn, the TC+ volunteer will take the seedling and seed order (2 plant and 2 seed packets per person), retrieve them from the supply, and safely leave them for the guest to take home.  All surfaces will be disinfected regularly, and volunteers will be wearing homemade masks and gloves to lower the risk of close contact.

“Local businesses have been very supportive, and we are really grateful to them all for letting us setup in their parking lots,” notes Ms. Bateman.  “We couldn’t do this with out them!”

Schedule

May 29, 2020: 11am – 1pm

Locations:

• • West parking lot at Pitt Street and First Street
• • Food Basics (West): 960 Brookdale Avenue
• • Home Hardware: 10 Thirteenth Street East
• • Food Basics (East): 1315 Second Street East
• • No Frills: 1390 Second Street East

May 30, 2020: 11am – 1pm

Locations:

• • Short Line Convenience: 1300 Second Street West
• • Food Basics (West): 960 Brookdale Avenue
• • The Local Fill: 1515 Pitt Street 
• • Food Basics (East): 1315 Second Street East
• • No Frills: 1390 Second Street East

This event has been made possible through in-kind support from the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, the City of Cornwall Recreation and Municipal Works departments, the Cornwall Kinsmen Farmers Market, the Downtown BIA, and the many host businesses listed above who have welcomed us into their parking lots.  

In addition to thanking our community partners and host businesses for supporting this small project, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank all essential staff and service workers who have been tirelessly working to keep our community safe and running during these challenging times.  May we all continue to grow and support each other, now and into our future.

Event details online at www.transitioncornwall.com and on Facebook “Incredible Edibles Plant give-Away: On the Road”.