Reaping What They Sow Byron’s Belvedere Garden is a community garden established three years ago and managed by a small group of volunteers. Villager caught up with two Belvedere gardeners to learn about what gardening means to them. As a retiree, Emily Logan spends as much time as she can in her three gardens, one of which is at Belvedere. “I’ve been interested in gardening my whole life,” explains Emily. “I think it's amazing that beautiful and useful plants grow from such small seeds.” Emily only grows vegetables that she enjoys eating, like potatoes, tomatoes, beans, kale, peppers, and lettuce. “I use my vegetables in most meals as they become available,” explains Emily. What she doesn’t eat, Emily shares with her family, friends, and neighbours. If she has an overabundance of something, she takes it to the Byron Cares Food Bank. “This is something we encourage our fellow gardeners to do, especially at this time of year.” Steve McIntyre has been a community gardener for 10 years at the Berkshire Community Garden and was a member of the organizing committee for the Belvedere Garden. “I grew up in a small community with our own large garden,” shares Steve. “Since retiring and downsizing to condo living, these community gardens let me get back to what I love.” Steve grows the same veggies he would buy from the store: lettuce and spinach, followed by onions, kale, yellow beans, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes. In the fall, he plants garlic. Steve enjoys growing a new vegetable each year as an experiment. This year, it was sweet potatoes.
Steve in his garden
Emily in her garden
“We prepare a lot of salads with all the greens and roast the vegetables to eat as a side dish,” explains Steve. “I have a swallowing issue, so I also use the veggies for curries and soups. I freeze some vegetables, like tomatoes, to cook into sauces.” Potatoes and garlic are stored in cardboard boxes with shredded paper in his basement during the winter. Like Emily, Steve shares his produce with family and friends and takes the extra to the Byron Cares Food Bank at the Byron United Church or the Caring Cupboard at 30 Baseline Road West. For many, gardening relieves stress and provides a sense of mental and physical therapy as well as fresh produce to enjoy throughout the summer, fall, and winter. “The positive comments and thanks we receive from the food banks for the fresh veggies also make all the effort worthwhile,” adds Steve. Photos courtesy of Emily Logan and Steve McIntyre
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Byron Villager November 2025
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