by Skyler Sorenson

Groundworks is four months (Dec. 2007 - Apr. 2008) of on-the-job training that incorporates life and employability skills through workshops, work experience and the creation of a demonstration garden. Five local youth are employed with Career Link, in partnership with P.R.E.P and Service Canada. We have an office at the Community Resource Center and we work out of the board room.

The Groundworks Project is accepting donations from anyone who would like to contribute to the demonstration garden. The fenced and wheelchair-accessible demonstration garden will have fruit trees and a vegetable garden which will one day produce nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that will be used in the community, or in the kitchen being developed in the back of the (CRC) Community Resource Center.

There will also be a medicinal-plant, herb and flower zone, along with a children’s garden. The physical infrastructure that needs to be built consists of a gazebo, a greenhouse, a tool shed, and a compost-bin system, plus fence and gates. We need tools such as hammers and materials like nails, roof shingles, and wood.

Groundworks also needs someone to donate some time to show youth how to build these physical structures. We are hoping for someone who has experience with this sort of thing. We can offer work in trade or even partial pay for hours worked to an experienced person who can mentor us.

The garden is not intended for community planting, but we do need the community’s ideas, opinions, and donations to help build this wonderful garden for educational purposes, which the community will be able to view and visit. This garden is intended to be a part of the community for many years to come, a safe place for people to relax and smell the flowers while enjoying a free coffee and a donut from the resource center. Everyone is welcome to contribute opinions; so come on down to the resource center (4752 Joyce) or give us a call 604-414-4868 to find out what’s happening at the garden so far and to keep track of the progress.