The Okotoks Museum and Archives has added a hands-on component to one of its outdoor exhibits.

A raised vegetable garden was built in front of the building as part of the farming exhibit to help educate people on where their food comes from.

Museum Specialist Kathy Coutts says historically a lot of homes had gardens in their backyards and she thinks that's changed.

"I don't think many people have big gardens anymore and so I think a lot of people forget where their food comes from and how easy it is to grow a row of carrots or a row of peas, and quite inexpensive, just the time and energy to water and weed," Coutts says.

Coutts says she hopes to plant a row of wheat or barley in the garden next year to show where grains come from and how those can be turned into food.

Children from an Okotoks day camp helped plant the garden and have made visits back to the museum to see how their vegetables are coming along.

Coutts says building the garden was a team effort.

"The Okotoks and District Historical Society paid for the raised bed, all the wood that went into building it, the Town contributed the soil and then with the kids who helped plant it," she says. "It really is a community garden."

The day camp kids who helped to plant the garden will be back in September to harvest the vegetables.

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