There was standing room only at the Roberts Creek Hall throughout the day on Sunday, March 4, as hundreds of people came out to honour the spirit of organic gardener and community activist Robin Wheeler, who passed away on Feb. 20 at the age of 57.
Wheeler blazed bright over her years on the Coast, working tirelessly for her own organic farm, Edible Landscapes, building One Straw Society and a School for Sustainable Living Arts to further education in growing one's own food.
She inspired such community endeavours as a seed swap for gardeners and an organic farmers' market. She also wrote three books, Gardening for the Faint of Heart and Food Security for the Faint of Heart plus another book of her own short stories, Invincible.
Her community work has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers. She inspired farmers everywhere, and many of them turned out to the memorial to give tribute. She was honoured by the Coast's Celebration of Excellence for Volunteers in 2010 and by Earth Day Canada's Hometown Heroes in 2011.
On Sunday afternoon, a black hawthorn was planted in Wheeler's honour, along with some of her ashes, at the Heart of the Creek Gardens; about 60 people attended. The native medicinal tree was chosen specifically as it is a strong wood with a fine grain.
At the memorial, friends read moving poems in her honour, spoke about her life, showed photos, sang songs, contributed to a mandala of seeds and gave away primroses. Just before the crowd shared a potluck dinner, they joined in a song, Me and Bobby McGee, that seemed an appropriate homage to Wheeler's sense of humour.
Visitor Carmen Mills, who published the bicycle magazine Momentum, told how Wheeler had also been an intrinsic part of Village Vancouver, an organization that engages people to take actions that build sustainable communities.
"She seemed to know how we all live in this tiny village, on this planet," Mills said, "and she had a sense of the interconnectedness of things - cars, bicycles, gardening, food."
Master of ceremonies for the memorial, Michael Maser, told the crowd that the way to keep in touch "with all things Robin" was to join the One Straw Society, a group of Sunshine Coast residents who support and encourage healthy environmental practices (www.onestraw.ca).
The Wheeler family attended and Robin's nephew, Jordan Mowat, told the crowd how welcome they had been made to feel: "All of you are probably just as much her family," he said.
Indeed, the family of friends and supporters from the community had raised more than $10,000 for her at a huge fundraiser last August. Wheeler used the money for medical treatments and to help with living expenses, while she was unable to work.
Last Sunday, friends and supporters sold herbs, seeds and books with money collected to go towards a legacy fund. Several of Wheeler's organizations are working together to decide how best to direct donations for the benefit of the community, to include farmers, gardeners and new projects.
To make donations to the Wheeler Legacy Fund, contact Maria Hunter at [email protected].
