Where environment and enterprise meet
Community Living BC Facilitator David Pasko’s voice fills with enthusiasm when he talks about the Maples Discovery Garden Co-operative project. “This project meets the needs of people on so many levels,” he explains.
“Not only are our CLBC participants exploring their own interests and learning horticultural skills, they are also producing organic food in a way that is healthy for the environment, making new community connections and starting to meet local market demands for their organic herbs and vegetables. All at the same time. The gardening skills these individuals are learning are already in demand by local community employers. It is a win-win situation.”
Participants have access to a fully equipped greenhouse space.
Located on a quiet acreage not far from the Township of Langley, The Maples Discovery Gardens Co-Op is a non-profit cooperative whose purpose “is to encourage community groups and the community at large to participate in programs in order to advance and sustain health improvement, disease prevention and environmentally friendly activities while striving to create a healthy community by nature.”
Working with The Maples Discovery Gardens Co-Op, CLBC has launched a unique project: a one-time funding initiative to build a communally supported fully equipped greenhouse. Accompanied by some paid supports and many community-based volunteers, 15 individuals supported by CLBC, ranging in age and experience, take a hands-on role in learning how to cultivate a productive garden. Participants currently need to have the desire to take regular part in greenhouse activities, for a minimum of one to two times each week. The Maples greenhouse project creates opportunities for participants to acquire skills related to future employment, self-employment and micro-enterprise in the field of horticulture. In David Pasko’s words, “Really, the possibilities are endless.”
How does The Maples project work? To begin with, adults with developmental disabilities who are eligible for CLBC supports and services are given a healthy space and environment to explore their interest in gardening and horticulture. Through the use of the greenhouse space (which is equipped with electricity, water, heat, hoses and other equipment required in the growing of plants as well as specially designed wheel-chair accessible planter boxes) and mentored by community-based volunteers and a part-time on-site gardener, individuals learn about growing, cultivating and marketing organic plants, produce, herbs and flowers. They also receive ongoing training from Discovery Co-op volunteers, and support and education from different community partners. For an annual $10 membership fee, each individual also becomes a Maples Discovery Gardens co-op member. That person receives co-op privileges, including use of co-op facilities, access to communal space, visitation for friends and families, a seat at the Co-Op meetings and a voice in the Co-op’s decision-making.
A primary goal of The Maples project is to assist individuals with skill advancement and employment development. In particular, the Maples greenhouse environment is ideal for people who may want to explore self-employment or micro-enterprise opportunities. Even David Pasko, a self-professed “entrepreneur at heart”, has been surprised by the range and types of business and employment opportunities already presenting themselves to the project. From invitations to be involved in local farmer’s markets and local produce chains, to standing orders at larger local grocery stores for organic herbs and produce and interest from local restaurants.
David admits that “we have more business lined up than we can currently produce.” An on-site retail space at the Maples greenhouse facility is in the works for the future, and a Tender Loving Care (TLC) plant program is currently underway and already raising funds. The TLC program involves local nurseries and growers donating stressed or un-bought seasonal plants to The Maples. With some care and nurturing by program participants, these plants can often be rehabilitated, resold, or used for propagating new plants and product. Funds raised are put towards making the Maples greenhouse project a self-reliant and self-sustaining year round venture.
In terms of regular employment opportunities, David has already been contacted by local nurseries and landscape companies interested in hiring individuals with greenhouse training and horticulture experience. So far the community response to the project has been very positive.
The Maples greenhouse construction and set-up is now complete and running year-round, with new organic products and crops growing now. Despite the more rural setting, individual attendance and participation rates have been very good and transportation via Handi-Dart, car-pooling and paid supports has been working well. After the set-up and winter work everyone is enjoying the spring, with regular crops and frequent sales.
Free plant donations to the Maples’ TLC program, including some rare Australian trees and day lilies on a recent pickup, continue regularly. Word of mouth about the program has spread quickly and David reports that community response as a whole has been supportive.
Currently, the program supports CLBC-funded participants to take part for a period of 6 to 12 months, before a new rotation of participants is introduced. In this first phase, The Maple project is trying to provide stepping stones to valuable skills for its participants, and a healthy environment to build employment, self-employment or micro-enterprise opportunities related to horticulture. For project coordinator and CLBC facilitator David Pasko, the longer term goal is to “see the bar raised and have participants excited about employment or self employment.” He hopes that people “can be excited about employment, to be finding new skills and just to see their own potential and what they are capable of doing, and to give them the opportunities to do just that.”
