Campbell River’s Army Cadets are learning how food was obtained during the war while at the same time, helping those less fortunate in the community.
The group of 23, who are part of 2943 Royal Canadian Army Cadets, planted a Victory Garden at the Campbell River Compost Centre last Saturday.
While the garden is to teach the Cadets how to grow their own food, it’s also serving another purpose.
Dionne Lanqvist, chair of branch 2943’s sponsoring committee, said the food will be grown and distributed to those in need.
“The food growing in the garden will be donated to the soup kitchen and to Cedar school,” Lanqvist said. “The garden will grow in the summer and the Cadets will be tending to it and weeding it. The summer crops will go to the soup kitchen and the fall crops will go to Cedar school.”
Lanqvist said the group of 12-18 year-olds is a “good group of kids” who are happy to help out the community while learning a new skill.
Victory Gardens harken back to the days during World War I and World War II.
“They were broke, so they couldn’t go to the grocery store,” Lanqvist said. “The men were at war and the women were left behind to grow food for the family.”
The Victory Gardens, also known as war gardens, grew vegetables, fruit, and herbs and were typically planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany.
They were used to reduce the pressure on the public food supply as well as to boost morale during times of war.
While Campbell River’s Army Cadets won’t be feeding any troops, their crops will go towards two good causes.
It’s nothing new for the Cadets who are expected to make valuable contributions to their community whether it be through environmental, citizenship or community activities.
Army Cadets also learn valuable life skills and work skills such as teamwork, leadership and citizenship while learning about the army activities of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Campbell River’s branch of Army Cadets was formed in May, 1976 and is open to boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18.
The Army Cadets meet on Thursday nights at 5:45 p.m. at the Eagles Hall.
Registration for the fall is now open and anyone interested in joining the Army Cadets can get in touch with Dionne Lanqvist at lanqvist@shaw.ca