Canada (NS): Hope Blooms building up greenhouse and opens new, larger headquarters in Halifax
Jessie Jollymore, dietician and Hope Blooms lead, said Tuesday the kids behind Halifax’s north end community garden and salad dressing business had outgrown their former space in the North End Community Health Centre and their new kitchen and program space at 5527 Cornwallis St. is a better fit.
“It is still in the heart of the community and it’s a sizeable space,” Jollymore said. “We really want to have a community food hub there.”
The 1,100 square-foot space is undergoing renovations and about “three-quarters” finished with the kitchen going in this weekend to better accommodate the 60 young members, Jollymore said.
Build Right Nova Scotia also began work on the group’s greenhouse at the corner of Brunswick and Gerrish streets about a month ago, Jollymore said.
The foundation is nearly complete, and on Tuesday Jollymore said the construction crews were putting in the systems that will allow the 12-metre greenhouse next to their garden to be “off the grid” and self-sustainable.
Herbs and vegetables grown in the greenhouse year-round will lead to more salad dressings, which are sold at the Seaport Farmers’ Market with 100 per cent of the proceeds going back to the garden and a scholarship fund for the children, Jollymore said.
In about three weeks when the greenhouse and new headquarters are complete, the stars of Dragon’s Den who gave the kids $40,000 last fall after a professional business pitch are set to visit Halifax.
“They’re good role models in showing the youth that you can have a really great idea and work hard to make it come true,” Jollymore said.
Source: metronews.ca