With the days getting longer and warmer, the volunteers of the South Lanark Community Garden are thinking about the coming spring. Seeds have been ordered and planting maps are being prepared. The gardeners are also looking forward to their Spring Fling fundraising concert on April 11 at Timber Run Golf Club and Event Lodge! The event is an important fundraiser for the garden and will help cover some of the base operating costs of the year ahead.
Each spring, summer and fall for the past nine years, the South Lanark Community Garden has grown thousands of pounds of fresh produce at their location on Highway 511 between Balderson and Lanark. The gardeners are mostly volunteers with a few youth hired each summer, including a lead gardener and assistant gardeners. Gardeners are welcome to take what they can use of the produce that is grown, but the majority is donated to local community food programs like the Lanark Pantry, and offered directly to families having a hard time affording sufficient fresh food. A registered non-profit, the garden depends on the support of the community to cover annual operating costs like soil amendments, seeds and equipment, and to top up the grants received for the summer youth positions.
The Spring Fling will feature local artists Jillian Allinson and Kori. Jillian is a thoughtful songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and owner of The Poland Church event venue… but first and foremost, Jillian is a performer. She has something to say, her performances are raw and uncut as she reminds us to pause, breathe deeply, and smell the wildflowers.
Kori is a singer-songwriter from Northern Ontario, now based in the Lanark Highlands. His Canadiana folk music blends thoughtful storytelling with contemporary country and classic folk influences, offering sincere, melodic songs delivered with a calm and engaging stage presence.
These performers will be joined by Ali McCormick, who is also one of the volunteers organizing the event and herself an exceptional musician and gardener.
Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30. Timber Run will be opening the bar and kitchen for guests. Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door for $30. Event details and the link for the tickets is available on the South Lanark Community Garden Facebook page. Timber Run is located at 154 Caldwell Street in Lanark Village.