One year into existence, a community food garden providing additional sense of meaning for NACL clients and the broader community is generating momentum. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

taking off

‘I find it satisfying to see people learn new skills:’ accessible food garden grows in Nanaimo

Jun 14, 2023 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — Numerous vegetables, herbs and a sense of community are all growing in lockstep at an emerging food garden just outside Nanaimo city limits.

A little more than a year into the existence of a community garden overseen by the Nanaimo Association for Community Living (NACL) on its Maxey Rd. property, program participants have enjoyed getting their hands dirty.

NACL client Noel McLean has helped repair fencing and consistently waters the garden, which he said has been a rewarding experience.

“Things are getting up and growing…I’ve done a lot here,” McLean told NanaimoNewsNOW.

NACL day program coordinator Niki Stuart has been instrumental in launching Ann & Darryl’s Garden.

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She was on site Tuesday, June 13 tending to the emerging space.

“I find it satisfying to see people learn new skills and try new things that they may not have had the opportunity to do,” Stuart said as she arranged a regular watering routine for the garden on Tuesday, June 13.

NACL clients used power tools to help assemble garden beds from donated materials. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Named in honour of two deceased former NACL clients who lived at the Maxey Rd. site, the garden features several garden beds designed for people with mobility challenges.

Food from the garden has been used for the NACL hot lunch program, Stuart noted.

NACL clients contribute by helping to build garden beds from donated material, perform minor repairs and deliver wheelbarrow loads of dirt to more than a dozen garden beds.

Originally envisioned as a less labour-intensive sensory garden, Stuart said a lot has been gained by going the food-growing route.

“Even if they’re just taking away one new little bit of information about how to grow something or the satisfaction of picking a strawberry that you helped grow and eating it — I find that super rewarding.”

Onions, beans and corn growing in the NACL food garden at the organization’s Maxey Rd. property. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Onions, beans, corn, garlic, cucumbers, several kinds of lettuce, strawberries and numerous herbs are just a few of the flourishing crops at NACL’s community garden.

Stuart hopes their space serves as an example of what can be done with a relatively small space.

“You can grow even in the smallest of spaces even if you don’t have a balcony, you can grow things in a pot. Just the satisfaction of growing something you can eat yourself, anybody can do it.”

Stuart hopes they’ll add a few additional garden beds to the space this growing season, which she said is open to the public to come and explore.

“Just close the gate,” she said with a laugh.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes