Flinton Community Garden
The Flinton Community Garden Project is now two years old, and in its second season the 36” high raised garden boxes that have been installed are, for the most part, full of vegetables as the harvest season has arrived.
“We took an empty lot and turned it into a beautiful garden,” said Marlean McLean, who, along with her husband Gord, met with me early Monday morning, at the garden.
The garden is located next to the Flinton Recreation Centre, in a grassy field surrounded by trees, set off from the residential streets of the village.
In 2025, the Township of Addington Highlands gave land to a community volunteer group, to develop. The first year, the focus was on accessibility and development. An accessible pad was created, accessible raised beds were built, a beautiful timber frame entrance installed, followed by a garden shed and a barn quilt (installed on the shed) donated by Pat Dubyk.
“We were very fortunate when we started out, that so many of the people that I called to ask if they wanted to get involved, not only said yes but became fully engaged and brought their knowledge and expertise to shape how it has developed. And Christine Reed and Patricia Gray from the township have been supportive from the township all along, making sure everything fits for them as well,” Marlene McLean said.
The initial group who put the garden together included the Township of Addington Highlands Roads Department, and a host of other local contractors and groups, including: Blackwell Construction, Brian Kay, KXO Timberframe, Ron and Ryan - Nowell Construction, DMC Contracting, The Land O’Lakes Garden Club, Jillian Freeburn Management Inc., Smitty’s, Econorent, Double H painting by Heather, Roofs 2 Riches and Richardson Roofing, Lemke Electric.
The group was successful in obtaining a Naturally L&A Activation Grant to build the 10x16 shed, using stamped and graded lumber. The labour was generously donated by a local contractor, like other labour for the raised beds and timber frame entrance.
A number of benches have been added since, dedicated in honour of community members.
In 2026, the first batch of raised boxes were filled by hand by community volunteers. Materials supplied by Don Woods Fuels, Paquets Landscape Supply, NOS Tree. Then planting began; Plants provided by the LOL Garden Club winter sowing committee, Belmont Farmstead along with the Seedit Community, and the community in general. Memorial benches were installed, and the first memorial picnic table arrived. Time went into digging and forming pads with the use of equipment donated by Clancy Electric and KGW Construction, and additional materials supplied by Ken Cuddy.
The Old Pharts made 2 unique legacy benches out of cedar, working together to ensure the height requirements met accessibility standards, under the direction of Rick Proctor and Mike Uson. One bench was placed on behalf of the Golden Girls, the 2nd for The Old Pharts.
A Kindness Cupboard was also added, this piece was donated by EB Woodcraft Creations who also donated the sign hanging on the timber frame structure.
Recently, the garden received a large piece of limestone that was sandblasted with the township logo on it. It was donated by Cole Maschke and Milestone Monuments.
Different individuals, families and community groups took responsibility for individual planters, with volunteers pitching in to make sure they were watered, a job that has not been that onerous over the past six weeks, because of consistent rainfall this season.
The planters, most of them put together by Gord McLean, and filled by contractors and garden centres, in order to maximise both the nutrient level and drainage, are still being filled in. He put four in this past week, and there is space on the site for more. Here again, accessibility is a consideration, making sure there is adequate space for a wheelchair to navigate around all of the planters.
Coming soon; perennial gardens for our pollinators. As part of the perennial garden a second barn quilt will be displayed entitled Grandmother’s Garden, a Memorial to Glenda Bence.
Other contributions to the garden in the form of materials/supplies or equivalent; Hook’s Building Centre, Yourway Home Hardware, Rashotte’s Home Hardware, Chisholm Lumber, Napanee Home Hardware, Milligan Meats, Rees Maple Products.
There were also private anonymous donors of items, materials and products, who chose not to be named.
The community garden has also partnered with Land O’Lakes Community Services to ensure that those needing transportation to the garden will have that opportunity; with Connections Adult Learning for courses and resources; with Addiction and Mental Health Services to offer our safe and inclusive space to anyone needing a space.
“Gardening and green spaces reduce stress and anxiety and symptoms of depression,” said McLean. “The community garden has become a popular destination for people of all ages who are stopping by to enjoy the space; to explore; have a quiet place to read; enjoy a short respite break from the stresses placed on caregivers; foster growth and community connections; form new friendships and create new relationships, on building something together.”
The garden has also hosted events, and has been a location for wedding photos, as it is just outside of the township’s largest banquet hall.
And, it has attracted some of the neighbours to get involved, including seniors.
“These are all things that we never intended to happen when we started getting this going,” said Gord Mclean. “What we really did was toss a snowball down a hill and have been watching it grow and pick up speed ever since. And here we are, and that snowball is still growing.”
The garden volunteers are looking forward to supporting our Land O’Lakes Emergency Foodbank, seniors, families and the community in general.
On Saturday September 12 at 10am, the garden will have its formal opening. A Piper will open the ceremony, followed by an important land acknowledgment, Music and Friends with Clyde Reid, (on the accordion) and remarks by a few other special guests. The entire community is invited.
