Village News

The Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) grounds and galleries are still closed until June 11th, but we are still busy getting several new developments ready for you!

If you have driven by lately you can see there is a new pergola being built near the pond. It will contain a seating area with large panels describing the Mennonite historical perspective on peace and violence, there will be a patio surrounding the life-size Dirk Willems sculpture and a peace garden that beautifully frames it all. Eventually, MHV will build a path the goes through the garden, circumnavigates the pond, passes by a part of the Berlin Wall and returns to the peace garden near the artesian well and its stream.

If you look closer yet, you will also notice that our pond has steep shorelines that are rapidly eroding. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we could not stabilize the shoreline on our own. That is why we are so thankful for the expert oversight the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District is providing us as well as a major grant from the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. The project now includes bringing in hundreds of coir logs to cover the entire shoreline of the pond, then we will bring in the sediment needed to form a sloping shoreline, plant tall native species all along and cover it with biodegradable erosion blankets. Not cheap. Support for this project has been provided by the Conservation Trust, a Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Initiative delivered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. We are looking forward to seeing this basin become a more natural wetland with a greater diversity of plants and creatures besides grass and geese.

Staff are also busy cleaning up different areas of the ground that have not had much attention in the past years. Every Tuesday we have been having an outdoor work bee. At the same time, our Livery Barn Restaurant chef is still serving a feast of traditional Mennonite food every Thursday and Friday. See our website for the set menu and call in your order today! We offer take-out and now free delivery. MHV is partnering with the Steinbach Car Club to deliver your food in style; it might be a ’49 Mercury, a ’55 Blue and White Chevy or some other heritage car yet. Now, you can look out the window in anticipation of a delicious meal and a beautiful car pulling up your driveway.

Finally, our Village Books & Gifts shop is still open to visit onsite or online. Village Books & Gifts is a unique one of a kind gift shop. New items are constantly gracing our shelves so be sure to check it out, you never know what treasure awaits you. MHV is a not-for-profit organization, so your purchase in Village Books & Gifts continues to help support MHV’s service to the community.