At the end of 2020, the City of Colwood put out the call for great ideas from our residents to bring new energy to places in Colwood. The City received four grant applications, each meeting the requirement of a matching contribution from the community through volunteer labour, donated services, donated materials and supplies, and/or other funds raised and all four projects were funded.
We're delighted to share the first Create Places Colwood project spotlight: the Little Free Plant and Seed Stand. Josephine "Jo" Neufeld is inviting Colwood residents to share and access plants, seeds, and garden harvests during the upcoming planting season.
Jo began gardening last year during the beginning of the pandemic. With quite the green thumb, Jo quickly realized she had grown more than she ever could use and decided to begin offering her plants to her friends and neighbours - and the idea for The Little Free Plant and Seed Stand was created.
Opening on April 20, 2021, the Little Free Plant Stand will be maintained by volunteers and will operate as a trading system.
Community members can stop by one of three Little Free Plant and Seed Stands and take either seeds, plants, or some of the garden harvest available and trade a plant or seeds of their own for the next person (make sure to lablel). Jo hopes to encourage community building and connecting people in a safe way during this difficult time we find ourselves in. She hopes to encourage folks to start gardening on their own not only just for the garden harvests they will receive, but also to promote mental health and wellness.
All plants have been grown on Jo's property in a green house. Jo has been very conscious of her environmental footprint while working on this project. Many seedlings have been started in items such as toilet paper tubes or take out containers. With the increase in take out containers many people find themselves with, Jo is showing us ways to re-purpose them and that gardening can be accessible and does not have to be an expensive endeavor.
Little Free Plant and Seed Stand locations:
- Herm Williams Park on Kelly Road
- 555 Langholm Drive
- 3283 Galloway Road
Follow the Free Little Plant and Seed Stand on Instagram to receive updates @colwoodlittlefreeplantstand
Jo will be speaking during the Citizens' Environment Network in Colwood (CENiC) Earth Month Speaker Series - Grow Local, Eat Local.
Learn about food security and community garden and other local initiatives. Register for this FREE virtual event taking place April 20 from 7:00-8:00pm by emailing ColwoodCENIC@gmail.com
