Two community groups with diversely different agendas are collaborating an a project buzzing with food sustainability potential.
A licensing agreement between the two organizations has planted the seeds for a community garden on Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue property in East Sooke.
“We are deeply grateful to Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue RCMSAR) and Sooke Region Food Chi Society for their support,” said Charlotte Senay, part of the East Sooke Community Garden Group involved in getting the project into the ground.
“We’ve assembled a passionate team of East Sooke residents with extensive professional experience to lead the way with every aspect of building and overseeing the garden.”
The group includes Ryan Roberts, a horticulturist and landscaper who designs gardens.
“Ryan’s also guiding us on the best environmental practices,” Senay said. “We also have a beekeeper and an irrigation specialist involved who are working with us, and a neighbour who lives next door to the property has all sorts of equipment. We’re awed and amazed at how passionate and positive the community is about this.”
The five-acre garden at 6040 East Sooke Rd. will include a variety of well-spaced, well-soiled plots, with an area for people with physical limitations togarden, and a children’s garden as well.
“Our vision is for a community space for people to grow healthy food and spend time together in a beautiful place,” Senay said.
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According to a press release, the first goal of this initiative is to support local food production and assist with local food sustainability strategies.
“We see this as a unique opportunity to give back to the community in which we are located, and to play a small role in addressing the ongoing issue of food sustainability,” said RCMSAR chief executive officer Bill Riggs. “This project has great potential for the community,and we’re really pleased to work with the Sooke Region Food CHI to make it happen.”
The aim is to have the ground prepared for the first growing season by the spring of 2024, with Sooke Region Food CHI developing a plan to expand the existing orchard and locate beehives for honey production in it.
Sooke Region Food CHI president Ellen Lewers said the society is excited about the partnership with RCMSAR and the East Sooke community garden volunteers to establish the garden and care for the orchard.
“We will assist the East Sooke Region to become more self-reliant on food production on this incredible property,”Lewers said. “We are pleased to be working with the RCMSAR board who are so supportive in working with us to support their neighbours.”
A couple of volunteers are needed to help turn compost once a week. Anyone interested can sign up at East Sooke Grocer.