Colwood Council has approved an expansion of the Colwood Community Garden at Colwood City Hall. The decision was made at their meeting on Monday, November 25th.
In 2014 the City approved the use of land at Colwood City Hall for to the Colwood Garden Society to create the Colwood Community Garden. The Society is a self-funding, volunteer organization. Today, there are 28 raised garden beds overflowing with fresh produce throughout the summer and fall, and the Society has a waiting list of people who would like their own garden plots.
This expansion will allow for 16 more plots, a small shed for tools, and wheelchair access into what is the only publicly available community garden in Colwood or Langford.
Bringing people together
Mayor Rob Martin recognized the value of the garden when he proclaimed June 19, 2019 Community Garden Day in Colwood.
"This garden has brought families, friends and neighbours together to build their plots, sow seeds, tend their plants and share knowledge about nature, gardening and preparing healthy food," said Colwood Mayor Rob Martin. "It gives older folks and youngsters a reason to get out and active in the fresh air to garden side by side and interact in ways they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to."
In a recent presentation to Council, Colwood Garden Society president Barbara Sibbald spoke passionately about how the garden brings people of diverse backgrounds and ages together.
"Members of the Colwood Garden Society are volunteers — residents of West Shore, urban farmers, students, home makers, working moms and dads, singles of all ages, and children," notes Sibbald.
"Some of us are very affluent, some live well under the poverty line. Many were born in countries other than Canada and some struggle with learning English. Most of us had never seen each other until we came together in the Spring of 2018 to finally dig our first gardens. We all had a common goal. We wanted to improve our accessibility to healthy fresh produce and share our knowledge and experiences in order to help others with the same desires."
Improving student learning and well-being
Wishart Elementary School, which is next door to City Hall, uses two extra-large plots as an outdoor classroom. Teachers bring groups of kids over for hands-on learning about nature, plants, gardening and growing food. And they are seeing many benefits for students.
"In the spring, classes of children often came out to the garden to find a special place where they could sit quietly for their reading time, or for figuring out their math problems," said Sibbald. "Teachers have observed the behaviour and anxiety issues that students may exhibit in the classroom disappear when they enter the garden."
Healthy food for people in need
The Garden Society allocated two extra-large plots to the Living Edge Market, a free market-style distribution centre for the disenfranchised residents of the West Shore.
"This summer we delivered fresh local produce to Living Edge weekly from mid-June to mid-September," said Sibbald. "These gardens were cared for by Colwood Garden Society volunteers. Seeding, watering, harvesting and delivering produce every week."
Colwood Council looks forward to seeing the community benefits continue to grow along with the garden.
Anyone interested in more information about garden plots or becoming a member may contact the Colwood Garden Society at colwoodgardensociety@gmail.com.
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Media Contacts
Sandra Russell, Communications Manager
City of Colwood
778-677-5345 or srussell@colwood.ca
Scott McDonald, Media and Communications Director
Colwood Garden Society
scott@scottincolwood.ca
