‘Can You Dig It’ to Build 50 Plot Inclusive Community Garden in Vancouver in 1 Day!

Group empowers people with developmental disabilities

News Release
May 5, 2011

Event in Vancouver BC:
Saturday, May 14, 2011. Garden build 8:00am – 5:00 pm. At: 4410 Kaslo Street, Vancouver (across from the 29th Ave Sky Train Station)

‘Can You Dig It’ is an urban agriculture and community development initiative hosted by posAbilities, a not for profit organization that empowers people with developmental disabilities. In partnership with MOSAIC immigrant settlement services and the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, a new 50 plot community inclusive garden will be developed at 4410 Kaslo Street in Vancouver. Para Space Landscape Inc. had generously donated over $11,000 of expertise, time and materials to this garden, and the City of Vancouver has offered the land. Over 100 volunteers will work shoulder to shoulder on May 14 to build the site in just one day!

Can you dig it offers a unique way to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences through gardening. In the garden, barriers due to ability, age, ethnicity or socio?economic standing are removed. Together, we can all plant a seed. Gardening is a natural way to connect neighbours, develop new skills and gain access to nutritious food. This initiative is also very much about contribution, with a portion of each garden’s harvest donated to local food depots.

The Vancouver Foundation and BC Social Venture Partners provided seed funding for Can you dig it. Currently in its second year, the project has developed 20 gardens throughout the lower mainland, involving more than 600 gardeners. A wide variety of partners are engaging in this initiative, including the BC Cancer Foundation, local faith and childcare groups, families, local businesses and other community living organizations.

More about their projects here.

Successful Build – Update May 16, 2011 – See Photos

See Facebook photos here.