Here’s the CBC video clip “The Last Arbutus Garden Party?“.
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the gardens!
We are moving forward with the children’s garden in spite of the threat by CPR. Thanks to Kaboodles for donating bubbles, bubble wands, and bubble soap for yesterday’s garden party. We have some bubble soap left so you can come blow bubble with us at the next children’s event, which will be announced August 1.
More and more people are signing the petition to the Mayor to keep the Arbutus Corridor green. On Friday, gardeners from Maple and Pine Community Gardens delivered 3,571 petitions to City Hall. This followed a delivery mid month of almost 500. At today’s count, an additional 1,185 people have signed the online petition. Further, hundreds of people came by the sign the petition during yesterday’s garden party.
Although this threat to the community gardens is causing tremendous heart ache and fear, we have rallied against this challenge and grown stronger and more connected as a community. Gathering this many signatures in only two weeks time is a tremendous accomplishment for a local group that underscores not only how much Vancouverites value this beautiful and unique green space, but also how much hard work our gardeners put into protecting it. A special thanks goes out to Cheryl, Mothé, Karen and Rosemary from Maple Community Gardens, Maureen from Cypress, and Julie from Pine for helping to gather so many signatures. Thanks also Dan from Maple and Gabriel from Nature Spirit Garden for creating videos to help raise awareness about the petition, the gardens and the threat to this green space.
Julie dropping off the latest batch of petitions at City Hall
There are hundreds of us gardeners maintaining little pockets of beauty along the corridor. Historically, I think each us has developed friendships and pulled into our community people gardening close by, people we meet at work parties every month. This initiative to protect the gardens has motivated many of us to get to know gardeners in neighbouring gardens, and all along the corridor. We building a stronger community with every conversation.
In case you haven’t yet signed the petition or shared it with your friends, here is the link to sign the online petition.
Resisting the destruction of the community gardens is making us stronger. Let’s stay strong and hopeful.
The announcement from Mayor Gregor Robertson regarding the Arbutus Corridor and letter to residents
http://www.mayorofvancouver.ca/arbutus
Saturday, July 26th from 11:00 to 5:00
A BBQ will be provided for anyone to use. Please feel free to bring a potluck to share. Open to the public, Free, all ages, pets welcome.
Plant seed giveaways, music, veggies, mini-market. Harvest and Garden Tour – 1pm & 3pm Seed saving workshop – 2pm
Meet between Maple st. and Fir st. along 6th avenue railway tracks
This event is brought to you by all passionate gardeners in this neighbourhood! For further information contact: Gabriel – naturespiritgarden@gmail.com
http://cypresscommunitygarden.
Sign the petition here: https://tinyurl.com/pv85dbd
We, as community gardeners, respectfully request that Vancouver City Council move quickly to preserve the Arbutus Corridor and the community gardens as they provide organic food and supply local soup kitchens, promote the development of community, and moderate the effects of climate change.
Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thearbutuscorridorgreenspace
Volunteers are needed to help with the petition booth at the Folk Festival this weekend (July 19 and 20). Contact Karen Coulter if interested and for more details.
Dan will be filming at the Cypress Community Garden work party this evening at 6:30. All are welcome.
Looks like Mother Nature is trying to help our cause.
Here are the most recent updates on the CPR-Arbutus Corridor. This does raise more questions than provide answers but we will continue moving forward with petitions, getting our message out through the media and asking local politicians and the city to take action. Gardens along the Corridor currently working together on this issue include Arbutus Victory Garden, Kerrisdale Community Garden, World in a Garden, Pine Street Garden and Maple Community Garden.
Cypress community garden has advised their membership to save any valued or special plants on the right-of-way. The executive will be providing recommendations for Maple shortly.
A Facebook page to preserve the green space along the Arbutus Corridor has been set up. A link to the online petition is also provided on this page.