Cat McGurkSA国际影视传媒檚 dream of turning an unused and unsightly plot of city land into a flourishing community garden is finally taking root SA国际影视传媒� thanks to a pile of potatoes, dedicated volunteers and a group of young green thumbs in the making.

McGurk, president of Makerspace YK, teamed up with the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT on Thursday. Kids composted, watered and nurtured soil and planted seed potatoes in newly-built garden beds at the 43 Street site, just off of Franklin Avenue.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 all part of a Makerspace YK initiative aimed at building skills SA国际影视传媒� and community SA国际影视传媒� through hands-on learning.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e wanted to do something with this space for years. I live in the area and the spot has been a total eyesore,SA国际影视传媒� said McGurk. Her long-held wish to transform the land was made possible thanks to a recent grant from Rising Youth, a federal program focused on getting young people involved in their communities.

McGurk applied for the funding after the Northern Farm Training Institute (NFTI) received a massive donation of seed potatoes SA国际影视传媒� some 50,000 pounds worth SA国际影视传媒� from an Alberta farm earlier this month.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the potatoes were donated to NFTI, I felt it was a great opportunity and decided to jump on it,SA国际影视传媒� said McGurk.

She put the funding towards the construction of the garden beds SA国际影视传媒� built Wednesday with the help of Common Ground, a homeless employment program. Last weekend, volunteers helped prep the land.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of my neighbours came out and was just so excited that someone was doing something with the space because itSA国际影视传媒檚 been over a decade that itSA国际影视传媒檚 just sat, ugly and full of weeds in plain sight,SA国际影视传媒� said McGurk.

The neighbour donated to the initiative so that McGurk and volunteers could access a rototiller to level the land.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was amazing.SA国际影视传媒�

Donated spuds are being planted to nurture a full-fledged potato garden.

Youth involved in the project are also getting a crash course on vermiculture SA国际影视传媒� how earthworms play an important, slimy role in the growth of a garden.

SA国际影视传媒淲e did a workshop with the kids today and that was really fun SA国际影视传媒� they were really grossed out and excited by it,SA国际影视传媒� laughed McGurk.

More workshops and tutorials are set to take place over the summer SA国际影视传媒� thereSA国际影视传媒檚 even plans to bring a beehive into the mix SA国际影视传媒� but the budding garden isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just about educating young people and honing horticulture skills.

McGurk hopes to help feed mouths as well as minds.

While details and future plans about the eventual harvest are still in the works, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 looking to link up with the citySA国际影视传媒檚 food bank to dole out fresh produce for those in need.

SA国际影视传媒楩ood security is very important to me,SA国际影视传媒� said McGurk.

SA国际影视传媒淕ardening doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 take a lot of money, just significant effort. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 really worth it SA国际影视传媒� you can do a lot to improve the aesthetic quality of the community as well as doing something good for your community,SA国际影视传媒� she said.