Community gardens work on so many levels. The obvious is that you can grow food. But think of that word community. In a wired world, we sometimes forget that the most meaningful interaction is face to face. A community garden is another way that allows neighbours to meet, to get to know each other, to chat about their day, to share their lives, to produce something together and then to share it.
For the women, it's a great way to spend an afternoon, tending plants, pulling weeds. And when they put those fresh vegetables on the table for dinner, there will be a sense of satisfaction knowing they grew them, nurtured them. The large planter boxes are easy to get to as they're raised off the ground. We're looking forward to some fresh at harvest time.
If you haven't heard about Brigid's Place before, it's a duplex that has been converted into a single home with room for 11 women. Each resident has their own room and they share a kitchen area, computer and a TV area. They also have a small garden in the back with a deck.
The women who live there have experienced very difficult times and still face a lot of challenges. They might suffer from mental illness, have issues with past trauma or be struggling with addiction. This program has been running since 2009 and it's a first step to providing stability and the skills needed to one day move on to more independent housing.
There are lots of activities for the women and the garden is just the latest example. This Sunday at 2 p.m., the community garden is holding its official opening. There will be cakes and refreshments on the front lawn of the Lowertown Community Resource Centre. In case of rain, the event will be moved to inside the centre. If you live in the neighbourhood, I hope you can attend and show your support for the centre and Brigid's Place.
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