Members of the Bhutanese seniors group help to till the Campus Garden for next year.
A group of seniors have taken to their roots over the summer—gardening and sharing the harvest.
The Bhutanese Senior’s group celebrated their second Annual Harvest Festival last Monday, giving all of the produce to the Lethbridge College Student Association as well as the University of Lethbridge food bank.
“They are grateful, and their way of giving back to the country and community is to give all of the food away,” said Immigration Services Administrative Assistant, Marcy Stork.
Dating back two years, a focus group had asked the seniors what types of activities they would like to be involved in around the city, and one of the major responses was to host a garden.
“In Bhutan, it was a big part of their livelihood, it was important for them to do that which was familiar to them and that could remind them of home,” continued Stork.
The group worked relentlessly throughout the summer, producing heaps of potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and many more fruits and vegetables at the Campus Gardens adjacent to the Trades building.
The Lethbridge College Student Association provided help and support throughout the spring and summer as well, rototilling and preparing the area.
“It was amazing, they came groups of twenty and thirty to help out, it seemed almost more of a therapy for them, where they were able to utilize their skills,” said Campus Recreation Coordinator J.P. Gentile.
Gentile had the opportunity to hone his own carpentry skills over the summer, helping to build stairs, boxes and shelves for storing tools and gloves.
“They are such hard workers, and they do it for nothing. They literally left only with a couple of handfuls of tomatoes for themselves,” he noted.
One senior, Nar Maya Darji came to Canada over four years ago, and with the help of a translator explained she how glad she was to contribute.
“The most interesting thing I like, is to donate food to people who were maybe once like me, who need help. I am very proud to be a part of this in this beautiful country.”
Karna Khar Adhikari is a senior who spent his time as a farmer in Nepal before coming to Canada. He curiously explained how different farming techniques varied from Nepal to Canada, such as how our technology advances have taken much of the heavy burden out of it.
Other activities provided for the seniors in the past include English classes, the Learning Café, as well as getting together monthly to view attractions in Lethbridge such as Fort Whoop-up and City Hall.
In partnership with Lethbridge Family Services, the gardening program will continue next year. The LCSA will be giving the donated produce out as needed around to needy students and throughout the community.
