PEI

Vegetables over flowers initiative wins award

A program to grow vegetables instead of flowers in Charlottetown parks has won a Community Builder Award.

First tomatoes planted in 2010

Charlottetown is growing a wide variety of vegetables in park planters. (City of Charlottetown)

A program to grow vegetables instead of flowers in Charlottetown parks has won a Community Builder Award.

The parks and recreation department first experimented with tomatoes in some Victoria Park planters in 2010. Vegetables were included in all the planters starting in 2011. This year three vegetable planters were placed in Orlebar Park, and there are plans to expand the program again next year.

The program has also expanded from tomatoes to a range of vegetables, including unusual ones such as broccolini and okra.

The program is part of the city's food security goal under its sustainability plan.

Murray Pinchuk Community Builder Award from the P.E.I. Association of Planners is presented every year on Nov. 8, World Town Planning Day.