A small community garden now grows on Ocean Avenue near Dolphin Street thanks to the vision of one community member who rallied many for the cause.
Sechelt resident Donald Robb first pitched the idea of a community garden to Sechelt council in November of last year after he noticed the well-trafficked side street was in need of becoming "a little more vibrant."He felt a community garden would beautify the area and benefit local citizens.
"It's about equal production of food and it's about people socializing and the need for people to get together and what's better than the earth and plants? Everybody's got a strong connection to that," he said.
Robb rallied members of St. Hilda's Church, Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living, Arrowhead, and the Food Action Network of the One Straw Society to form the Ocean Vegetables Community Farm board.
As a board they brought the idea to council, which saw fit to give $5,000 to the effort and allow use of District property along Ocean Avenue.
Donations of soil and lumber from Salish Soils and Deluxe Landscaping reduced the project's cost considerably and Vital Signs provided signage for the project free of charge.
On May 20 about 50 community members gathered at the site to bless it and plant vegetable seedlings provided by Green Room Organics.
Robb said the day was an exciting culmination of months worth of work, but he noted it was just the first phase of what he hopes will eventually be a 200 metre stretch of edible plantings along Ocean Avenue.
"Right now we've got about 100 feet (30 metres) planted," he said.
Next on the to do list for the Ocean Vegetables Community Farm board is installing a permanent watering system at the site and finding ongoing funding for their garden project.
Robb said he plans to take a back seat now, adding the Food Action Network will take the lead for the rest of the project.
Community volunteers are watering and weeding the garden as it grows. If you would like to help out contact Robb at 604-885-7622 or by email at [email protected].
When the garden is ready for harvesting the board will decide how the produce is divided, however Robb said community members are welcome to come by and take a carrot or pea when they're hungry.
"My only hope is that they just take what they need, not a whole shopping bag full," Robb said.
