Members and guests of the Lake Bloomers Garden Club came out in all their green glory for a post St. Patrick’s Day meeting.
Green edibles were in abundance to the delight of those in attendance on Tuesday, March 18. Our guest speaker was Bob Day who presented his dream of an edible forest, community gardens, playground, dog park, trails and settling pond on the property surrounding Centennial Park ball field.
The area — was previously a BMX bike park, and is now unused — is undeveloped and heavy with blackberry vines and weeds. Maps of the site and potential development were passed around for viewing.
When developed, this space will be a safe place for people of all ages to walk, garden and socialize. The gardens will contain raised beds and will be fenced to keep out wildlife. A settling pond will ensure that run-off water will be clean and suitable to enter the lake.
Dog owners will have a place for their pets to enjoy an off-lease area. A children’s playground and possible seniors’ exercise equipment area were also discussed providing funds are available.
The Town of Lake Cowichan is already on board and grant applications have been sent to B.C. Healthy Communities for a possible $20,000 and Trees Canada for a possible $15,000.
Other grants will be sought and it will take many months, and many hands to bring this project to fruition.
Day is seeking potential partners and is making presentations to many groups in the Cowichan Lake area. People in the community need to be the driving force at this point. Support and commitment for the project is required in order for a non-profit society to be formed and for work to start.
Following the slide show Day quoted from a library book on permaculture that inspired him to get off his duff and get the community excited and motivated into being part of the process.
The benefits that will come from those using this area are many, and visitors to town will be able to enjoy it as well. When completed he sees it as a gem in the heart of the town.
The Lake Bloomer Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of the month at the Lake Cowichan Seniors Centre, 55 Coronation Street, at 1 p.m.
Our planning committee has honed in on several possible tours for this year and we always welcome visitors to our meetings. For more information email smithcara50@gmail.com.
Gardening tip:
Your garlic will need to be fed with kelp or canola meal when their greens are showing. Reindeer’s Natural plant food, made and sold locally, makes kelp meal and it works wonders for root crops such as asparagus, carrot, onions, beets and garlic.
Plant of the Month
Lily of the Valley evergreen shrub has clusters of white blossoms, colourful growth the rest of the year and deer don’t touch it!