ST. PAUL – The St. Paul Champions for Change is gearing up for its annual edible barrels project.
Throughout the summer month in St. Paul, people might notice barrels located outside businesses. Edible plants are planted in these barrels, explained Champions for Change chair Penny Fox.
“There’s edible flowers in there . . . herbs . . . vegetables,” she said. “So anybody, if you’re walking down the street [and] you want to eat one of those tomatoes [on those barrels], you’re more than welcome to do that.”
Initially, when the project began in 2014, the idea was to bring more energy and colour into the downtown.
It soon evolved into something more, when Champions for Change decided it would be a good idea to plant edible plants to promote awareness on food cultivation among local youth, thereby not only beautifying the downtown but also providing educational opportunities for children and families.
“We thought: ‘Why are we investing in flowers when we could be investing in showing kids things to eat and how things grow? That’s where the idea came from,” said Fox.
The non-profit also worked with Owlseye Greenhouses and Gardens to identify what edible plants could thrive and survive in St. Paul’s climate, given some crops and plants that were planted in the barrels in the past withered due to extreme weather conditions like heat.
Over a decade since then, the project continued to grow thanks to support from the community and the volunteers sacrificing their time to plant. “And then, the Town has the heavy work of moving them because they’re very heavy,” said Fox, explaining it took collaboration to ensure the project’s continuity.
She also gave special thanks to Peavey Mart who provided a grant ten years ago to kickstart the project. Though Peavey Mart has closed, Fox said the project is one legacy that continues.
Champions for Change and volunteers will be planting edible plant barrels in early June, weather permitting.
