Accomplishments in the Garden in 2015

• On April 2nd our first session of the year with the participants, we had 27 people weeding and planting radishes, potatoes, strawberries, peas, and carrots. We built more beds and spread compost. On April 9th we had our largest work crew ever, 29 people.


• In 2015, a new stipend policy was introduced: participants who committed to and worked four shifts (either Tuesdays or Thursdays) per month would be paid $15 for each session. This heightened stipend was available to them for shifts beyond the 4 that they had agreed to work.

• A challenge in the spring was finding a garden shelter that could provide protection during spring rains and summer heat waves. A gazebo was located and installed, and a tarp was used as a roof for the structure. Later in the season, an additional gazebo with a roof was contributed by Joanah, one of the volunteers.


• The first produce was ready for markets early in June.


• Over the last years watering the garden has been a particular challenge. Chris Kennedy (C & C Greenhouses) provided expertise and many of the materials to help install a new irrigation system. The impact was immediate: full beds of carrots began to flourish in spite of the summer drought. This was a welcome change from the disappointment the gardeners had experienced with carrot crop failure in the past.


• A highlight of the summer was the August 15 bottle drive. This was proposed and led by one of the participants, Crystal, who articulated both an objective and a plan for this event. She, with the assistance of the ACT team, printed and distributed posters around the city and recruited both participants and volunteers to assist with the drive. She stated that the goal was to raise $500, which would be used to purchase materials for the garden. On the day of the drive, cars and vans rolled up to Serenity Farm loaded with bottles and cans. The Bottle Depot provided sorting bins and volunteered to pick up the bottles at the end of the day. The event exceeded expectations by raising over $1000 for Feeding Ourselves and Others.


• In September an Open Garden was attended by approximately 70 people. People from the community as well as friends and supporters of the garden were welcomed by staff, participants and volunteers.


• As in previous years, the garden was tidied up and closed down in October, and preparations began for the Harvest Celebration. Staff, participants and volunteers met at Souper Meals in October for the feast and an awards ceremony.

"When you are in a situation of being mentally disordered or drug addicted and you live on the street,
your sense of community is very narrow. Their community is the 900 block of Pandora.
This helps develop a sense of a broader community, and where if you work hard, you can make money.
You have street-involved people selling flowers and vegetables to the deputy attorney general.
In part, it gives participants a sense that they are part of the community too,
that we aren't in separate worlds."   -Judge Ernie Quantz

SIGNIFICANT STATISTICS BY YEAR

ACT/VICOT/VIC Participants

Hours April-October

Total number of ACT/VICOT/VIC participants April-October

Number contributing more than 9 hours to the project for the season

Average number of hours per qualifying participant

Average attendance per session

Seven Oaks Residents

Sessions & Hours (21 x 1.5 hr/wk in 2012, 24 x 1 hrs in 2013)

Total number of Seven Oaks participants taking part each year

Average attendance per session

Total Participant Hours for all participants

Garden volunteers hours April-October (on site hours only)

Total number of volunteers participating throughout the season

Coordinators volunteer hours including off season hours

Total volunteer hours for all volunteers (excluding off site hours)

Total market sales (23 markets in 2013, 19 + 15 extra sales in 2014)

Additional donations from plant and art sales in 2014 ($1,200 + $1,000)

Total number of lb.s of vegetables and other food produced for sale

Total no. of boxes of veggies donated to Our Place & Mustard Seed

2012



512

12



32

4



126

6

4

638

231

4

260

491







31

2013



817

33

17

29.2

6



96

6

4

961

573.5

5

185.5

759

$3,875



1900+

22

2014



1157

30

20

39.5

7.5



150

9

6

1307

953.5

13

132

1085.5

$5,115

$2,200

2,558

32

2015



1614

32

20

70.8

8.6



126

10

6

1740

1017

15

99

1,116

$6,800 [est]


3,400+