Despite the rainy weather, WestShore Centre for Learning and Training student Toni Pasay and garden volunteer Jodie Parks dump dirt on what will be the vegetable plot. The new program will give West Shore students hands-on experience gardening and growing food.
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By Amy Dove - Goldstream News Gazette
Published: October 09, 2008 1:00 PM
It’s a community garden of outstanding proportions.
Rooted alongside Sooke Road, the WestShore Centre for Learning and Training teaching garden was designed to educate both youth and adult students on the ins and outs of gardening.
“The theme of this garden is sustainability,” said principal Daphne Churchill at the official opening last week. “(The garden will) provide us with food, beauty and a place to come with purpose.”
Hardly more than a grassy yard at the moment, soil will be brought in for a vegetable and fruit garden. Raised planter boxes add to the growing space. The idea is to use the garden for elementary and secondary school programs in the Sooke School District, as well as the continuing education programs, said Bonnie Keleher, program co-ordinator.
“(The garden is) where we can have some practical hands-on experience for our students as well as the community,” she said.
When the students are not using the garden there will be opportunities for senior and community groups to access the space, Keleher said.
“Because we do community education we are quite open to having other community groups utilizing the garden if they have teaching programs,” she said.
To help get the garden started, classes are being offered in garden layout and irrigation — all with hands on work by students. Carpentry students will build a shed and greenhouse, along with benches and other design elements in the garden.
As the seasons progress, the programming will reflect what is happening in the garden. There are even opportunities for compost education as students next door at Colwood elementary will bring compost to the garden as well.
For all the garden is, primarily it’s a way to connect farmers and business people to students and schools, Chuchill said.
“We certainly hope (people) make this place a very special place,” she said.
Donations are welcome for the teaching garden. Everything from soil to gardening tools and building materials are needed. The WestShore Centre for Learning and Training is located at 2139 Sooke Rd. For more information on the center go to www.learnforlife.ca.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
