Editor:
As a participant in the community gardens at Community Services, I am very concerned about the proposed rezoning and possible sale of the lot that currently holds the majority of the garden plots and the food bank.
If the rezoning and sale of the land goes through, the remaining area where both the food bank and gardens would be moved to is much smaller than the area they currently occupy. In the paper last week, it sounded as if the gardens and food bank would be merely transitioned to another area. However, I wonder if the number and size of the community garden plots will remain the same, or will the community garden project need to be severely downsized in this process. This, to me, would be a great shame.
At a time when food security is top of mind for so many, and we are trying to find ways to make healthy food choices accessible to all, paving over a large portion of the community gardens seems to me a backward step. Among the many gardeners who benefit from this program there are seniors, people of low income, people with disabilities and refugees. These garden plots help people access healthy fresh fruits and vegetables that may otherwise be unaffordable to them. The community garden project should continue to expand, not be diminished.
I really feel that the gardeners have not been given enough consideration throughout this process. I hope that people who support community gardens and food security will contact the District of Sechelt, as well as Community Services, to say that they are opposed to the rezoning and sale of this vital piece of property, known as lot 36, that is home to such an important project.
Jack Ziebart, Sechelt
