Over 1,000 vehicles lined up at Milner Group's loading yard on Biggs Road on Saturday, April 11 to receive free top soil from the company. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Kyle Ireland

FREE DIRT

Extensive lines, traffic backlogs for free dirt donation by Nanaimo’s Milner Group

Apr 11, 2020 | 11:49 AM

NANAIMO — People eager to get their hands on some free top soil turned out in droves, causing extensive traffic backlogs in north Nanaimo on Saturday, April 11.

The dirt was donated by the Milner Group who invited the public to come get two free yards of soil.

Social distancing measures were in place with Milner employees loading dirt into trailers and trucks as drivers remained in their vehicles.

Craig Cookman, General Manager of Milner Group estimated they loaded around 6,000 yards of top soil for approximately 3,000 customers.

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“We had no idea, we’re absolutely overwhelmed with both joy and shock and awe of the turnout,” Cookman said. “We really wanted to give back to the community, especially the front line healthcare workers.”

The gates opened at 7 a.m. with some residents waiting over two hours to be the first in line. Cars waiting to get through the gates stretched down Mostar Rd. to Jingle Pot Rd.

“Once you’re in the line you’re committed and I’m stubborn and I’m not turning back,” soil-seeker Phyllis Brooks said. “I need some grass where we did some construction work and tomatoes and things that are expensive to buy.”

Glen Waldizk, a Cedar resident woke up at 5 a.m. and waited close to three hours in line.

“An hour in I thought I really should not be doing this but I was having a good time, having a chat with my buddies,” Waldizk said. “We’re actually going to be doing some vegetable gardening with this stuff.”

The Milner Group also provided free delivery to around 250 front line healthcare workers who could not make the event.

Their fleet of six trucks were accompanied by 25 volunteers made deliveries throughout Nanaimo.

“We’re going to be producing soil for the next two weeks to get things back in line,” Cookman said. “We’re happy to do it, our staff have gone above and beyond to support this, it has been amazing.”

kyle.ireland@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @kyle_ireland31