Gerald Fitzgerald of the Chemainus Rotary Club presents a cheque to Nuria Sanchez of Food First Chemainus and Marion James of Cowichan Neighbourhood House.
The Chemainus Community Garden is an idea that has rapidly grown into another success story.
The initiative grew out of a collaboration of community groups and individuals who were concerned about food security and were looking for a way for people to exercise their green thumbs.
Nuria Sanchez of Food First Chemainus played a key role in the project that also involved Cowichan Neighbourhood House and Harvest House Food Bank.
“We didn’t have a community garden and there are people who want to do gardening but have nowhere to do it,” Sanchez explained.
In May, former North Cowichan councillor Kate Marsh, Kathy Asp from Cowichan Neighbourhood House and Emily Holmes of Harvest House, joined Sanchez and Veronica Haits from Food First Chemainus to pitch the idea to North Cowichan. Originally, they were seeking use of space on Elliott Street, near the high school. When that didn’t work out, the location between the library and the building that is home to Neighbourhood House on Willow Street was put forward.
The concept was supported by council, and the group was given a one-year license to set up the community garden.
Sanchez says Brian Johnson of Johnson Contracting brought in equipment to place the gravel and soil for the 16 beds.
“Brian donated his time, equipment and men and six men, Rob, Leo, Derek, Bob, Sean, and Art volunteered to build the 4 ft. x 8 ft. beds. Shawn, Scott, A.J.,and Greg from the Sawmill also volunteered. Ian Porter of Porter Farms donated the aggregate.
The lumber for the garden beds was donated by Western Forest Products Chemainus Sawmill. Gus Pimentel of Evenflow Plumbing provided plumbing services and Ladysmith Home Hardware and Chemainus Hardware provided hoses and hose holders.
Windsor Plywood donated about half the lumber in the beds in partnership with the Chemainus Library. The Library was also instrumental in advocating for and promoting the garden.
Although the gardens got off to a late start, the plants have flourished and there is now an abundance of tomatoes, corn, peppers and other produce.
The beds are shared by Neighbourhood House, Harvest House and community members.
With the first year drawing to a close, Sanchez says the focus is now turning to finding a permanent location for the garden. The Elliott Street site remains a prime target.
“We got this site for a year, but the muni doesn’t know about next year,” Sanchez says. “It would take a bit of work, but all the beds are movable, and we could end up in a new location.”
The Chemainus Community Garden received a boost from the Rotary Club of Chemainus when the club turned over $1,063, the proceeds from a recent bottle collection. The money will be used to purchase equipment for the garden.