New greenhouse opened at Peace Ranch

May 23, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The Peace Ranch property in Albion has a very nice and promising new greenhouse.
In cooperation with the Rotary Club of Palgrave and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the new Left Field Farm Market Garden program opened its new greenhouse last week.
Peace Ranch Executive Director Eric Tripp-McKay said they were celebrating both the new green house and the coming of spring.
He also praised the involvement of Rotary, which had some money to invest and chose to channel it in support of promoting mental health, as well as seeing the need for people to have gainful employment and confidence building.
“It began as a concept,” he said. “We developed some momentum.”
“It’s been amazing working with you,” he added.
Rotarian Jim Firth observed fellow club members Susan Hicks and Craig Robbins had seen this as a good community project. “There’s a lot of local contributions,” he said.
He also praised Rotarian Graham Ferguson for preparing the Trillium grant application.
The greenhouse is 50 by 25 feet, with foundation walls that go nine feet deep.
The Left Field Farm Market Garden program provides employment for people recovering from mental health issues, through the planting, growing and selling of quality organic produce to the community. It offers meaningful employment and helps build skills and confidence in a supportive environment.

Those taking part in last week’s ceremony included Farm Manager Tom Robson, Rotarian Jim Firth, Diether Weeren, Peace Ranch Executive Director Eric Tripp-McKay, Rotarians Susan Hicks, Gordon Barr and Pat Clifford and Peace Ranch Board Chair Louise Kindree.
Photo by Bill Rea