The Veggie Patch volunteers have snugged the garlic bulbs into the soil at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden. It’s time for the volunteers who work magic there to take a winter break. The only remaining crops to be harvested are chard and kale, destined, like all the vegetables grown here, for the Community Services Food Bank in Sechelt. The thousand pounds of organic produce donated this year are thanks to a dedicated group of 20 volunteer gardeners, with support from a much wider community.
Before planting spring seeds, the ground is weeded and prepared with fresh compost donated by Top Quality Top Soil. Crop rotation is carefully managed, and home-made organic fertilizer applied where needed. Some seeds are saved from year to year for replanting, but many are from West Coast Seeds, a company specializing in seeds suited to the climate of southwestern B.C. Each year they donate the seeds the volunteers request, including well-known favourites and less familiar varieties that are of great interest to visitors.
“One of our biggest challenges is the weeds,” reports Veggie Patch coordinator Judy Garrett. New volunteers are welcomed and appreciated. “If you can pull a weed, dig a hole, plant a seed, we’re happy to have you. It’s not about strength or prior knowledge.” Many home gardeners are welcomed to work while learning new skills. Garrett confesses, “Brawn is always welcome too!” Each year, current and retired Telus employees spend a day weeding, a huge boost to the regular volunteers.
Cooperation between the Food Bank and Garden volunteers ensure the harvested vegetables are suitable and offered fresh. It is important that some, such as carrots or tomatoes, are easy to consume by people without cooking facilities. Mondays the produce is harvested and delivered straight to the Food Bank refrigerator minutes after it leaves the ground. “Fresh produce isn’t something our clients can afford,” says Dale Sankey, Food Bank coordinator at Community Services in Sechelt. This weekly boost of high quality food makes a difference. “Knowing there are people who care makes a big impact.”
Just south of the Veggie Patch is the bee demonstration area, created and managed by the Sunshine Coast Beekeepers Association. Flowers such as sweet peas and nasturtiums are grown along with the vegetables to encourage pollinators, and all sorts of sunflowers feed the birds. Just to the north is the Seniors Garden, where a group of seniors – including nonagenarians – grow flowers and vegetables in specially-designed raised beds, another excellent demonstration of how to grow your own at any age or ability.
2015 was a particularly challenging year for the vegetables and all the volunteers. Watering restrictions meant turning off automatic systems and hauling a hose from plant to plant, taking up precious hours. When Level 4 restrictions took effect, volunteers brought water from their own wells or rain barrels until a temporary system of roof-water collection could be installed near the Veggie Patch. Throughout the planted areas of the Botanical Garden, volunteers lugged water to thirsty plants again and again.
“The Botanical Garden is actively exploring our options for irrigation sources for next year and beyond. Work will commence later this fall on establishing a well on site to serve our future needs,” reports Garden manager Mary Blockberger.
For now, rain has returned, tanks and ponds are full, and plans are underway for 2016. Spring must be just around the corner!
Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden is open year round at 5941 Mason Rd. in West Sechelt. Admission is by donation; members enter free. Winter hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday. Technique demonstrations, lectures, and a wealth of other programs are offered. Watch for the mid-winter celebrations of Woodland Christmas and Winter Lights in December. For more information about volunteering, membership or programs, see www.coastbotanicalgarden.org
