A perennial favourite for green thumbs, the Estevan Community Gardens will boast an upgraded growing space come spring.

The non-profit used money it had saved up, a $5,000 federal grant, and help from individuals and businesses to install eight new flower beds.

The garden, situated on Lynd Cres., will feature 17 plots (12x4x2 feet) to start the year instead of the usual 18 because of some tree roots infringing on one of them.

Board of Directors Chair Theresa Beck said the renovations, initially planned at the start of the pandemic, were completed in the fall of 2021.

"Some of our older beds were falling apart, so we actually had to dismantle the beds that were already there, move the dirt away, put these new beds that we had gotten together to build, and then they were reinforced with rebar and steel and everything, into place. And then fill them back up with dirt again."

This winter's snow is good news for anyone using the garden, though it means some extra work.

"Once spring comes, we'll probably have to top up some of those beds with some more dirt because the dirt will have settled over the winter, with all this nice snow," said Beck. "We definitely need all that moisture. Then we'll rototill again in the spring, and we'll be ready to fill these beds up with some seeds or seedlings, and get going again for another summer."

Each bed was used last year, though some gardeners filled multiple plots. Beck said the group is looking for more people to join.

Work bee photos courtesy Beck and plant photos by Melanie Brandow