These hardy apple saplings are soaking up the indoor light before they take their permanent place at the Dyment Recreation Hall. Soon, they’ll transition from these small green pots to the rugged Northwestern Ontario soil, forming the backbone of our future community orchard and living art installation.
From canvas to soil, we are bridging the gap between artistic expression and sustainable food security in Dyment.
Winter has been a blur of sawdust, paint, and planning. We’ve been hunkered down at the Dyment Recreation Hall, getting the new arts space ready and keeping our weekly workshops going. It’s been a lot of work, but the payoff is close—our first official exhibition in the newly renovated space is only about a month away.
But as much as we love what’s happening indoors, we’re itching to get back outside. Our program isn’t just about gallery walls; it’s about the land around us. So this year, we’re adding outdoor landscaping and installations to the mix.
We’ve been keeping these apple trees tucked away inside, letting them get strong enough to handle the move to our outdoor park space. It’s a bit of a creative project in itself—designing a landscape that looks good but also feeds people. This isn’t a “quick fix” project. It’ll take years to see the full result, but to us, the trees are just as much an exhibit as the paintings on the wall.
From canvas to soil, we are bridging the gap between artistic expression and sustainable food security in Dyment. Our goal is to make the park a place where you actually want to spend an afternoon. We’re working on adding benches, better landscaping, and outdoor art that can handle the Northwestern Ontario elements. It’s all part of our bigger plan to focus on food security and keeping our community connected.
It’s been a long winter, but the saplings are ready and the plans are set. These seedlings represent a long-term vision for a lush, edible landscape that nourishes both body and soul. The snow won’t be here much longer. Stay tuned—we’ve got a lot more coming this spring.
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