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Home , Garden design

The Bloom Group Project

Summary of Reflections by Julia Meyer-MacLeod and Marybeth Welty Hello!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the charrette on Thursday June 12. We were so happy to see so many people there with great energy and enthusiasm for the project!

This document is intended both for attendees and those who were not able to make it out. It summarizes the event, ideas that were generated, and some exciting volunteer opportunties that have emerged from these.

Please circulate this document to anyone who may be interested in the project. If you would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for all of your support and don’t forget to spread the word about the garden on social media! #BloomToGrow

Sincerely,

Garden Planners

Julia Meyer-MacLeod and Marybeth Welty Contents

introduction charrette organisers charrette agenda our reflections of overall event outcomes of the breakout activities volunteer opportunities schedule of upcoming events Introduction

As mentioned, this document provides: a description of Charette events and their outcomes; the garden planners’, Marybeth and Julia’s reflections; and a synopsis of plans moving forward with the project as well as opportunities for involvement along the way.

Bloom Group Garden Project Design Charrette

Date: thursday June 12 from Time: 6pm - 9pm Location: cottage Hospice, 650 N. Penticton St. Attendees: 29

Attedees included: volunteers, The Bloom Group organizational staff,T he Bloom Group shelter staff, design and planning team members for the larger Powell Place renovation, local business authority representatives, interested members of the public and the garden planners. The Garden Project

Why would we drag all of these people into 1 room on a perfectly lovely Vancouver evening in June? The Bloom Group: Because of our amazing project, of course! • Non-profit organization • Located in the Downtown East Basically the deal is that we have been engaged side by a wonderful organization called The Bloom • Operating since 1961 (formerly Group which is undergoing an expansion at one called the St James Community of its shelters. The shelter, Powell Place, will be Services Society) doubling its capacity to provide beds for 52 women • Provides housing, health and who are facing difficulties or fleeing from violent social services to vulnerable situations. It will include a new industrial kitchen, individuals medical rooms, learning spaces, and... a 2,000 sq’ garden!

What’s exciting is that 2 other homes operated by the Bloom Group also look onto the courtyard and will be able to benefit from it. These homes are: Santiago Lodge, an assisted living facility for approximately 30 people with mental disabilities, and May’s Place Hospice, which provides housing and care for 8.

We are currently working to: design the garden, engage residents/staff/ community, and to pull in funds and resources for the garden. In this, we are seeking help & involvement from all who are interested! Goals of the Charette

These were to:

• Determine potential COLLABORATIONS - with organizations, businesses, communities, schools, non-profits, etc... - establish key and core potentials - for before/during/after construction

• Create/determine/explore further opportunities for: - FUNDING for the garden project - PROMOTIONS/OUTREACH

• Explore PRELIMINARY concepts & plans for moving forward - anticipate challenges - create loose spatial plans Charrette Agenda

Intros Project Summary Presentation Healing Presentation Food Break Breakout Activities Cottage Hospice Garden Tour Breakout Activity Debrief Design Activity Closing Statements Activity descriptions

• PROJECT SUMMARY: agenda of the charrette, purpose of meeting, background on project, goals of charrette. The powerpoint file has been uploaded to our Facebook page

• Celeste from the Master gave a wonderful talk about HEALING GARDENS, including some examples and their benefits

• Food BREAK & networking

• Break-out BRAINSTORM activity- free rotation around 4 stations

1) What activities could/would take place in the garden, and what features would support these? 2) Where/Who can we look to for materials/other resources? 3) What community groups, events, businesses could this project be involved with, & vice versa? 4) How can we generate more media attention to draw funds and public attention to the project?

• GARDEN TOUR of Cottage Hospice garden was given by Lesley Anderson. Discussed the significance of Cottage Hospice, its history (it used to be a women’s jail!), and a walk around the beautiful gardens that have been maintained for over 20 years by a Master . The garden is used as a learning garden for Master Gardeners going through their practicum.

• DEBRIEF of breakout groups. We summarized the ideas that came out of the brainstorm activity. For a full list, see the next section of this document.

• DESIGN ACTIVITY attendees were given base plans of the garden, and a chance to put pen to paper and try their hands as garden .

• CLOSING STATEMENTS announcement of our upcoming group mingler event, and that we will be publishing a document with the upcoming schedule including charrette follow-up and opportunities to get involved. BRAINSTORMING RESULTS!

What activities could/would take place in the garden, and what features would support these?

ACTIVITIES FEATURES

• art classes • pathways leading to private and common • shared gardening amongst residents areas • shared gardening/food growing classes • outdoor ‘’/living for Santiago for residents • pavers and signs (see Fir Square) • shared resident meals/barbeques • holiday decorations • holiday events • food planters- fruit/bumbleberries, • seasonal planting/harvest events zuccini, kale, onion, garlic, lettuce, spinach, kiwi, chard, beans • medicine wheel garden (see Van Dusen) • herb gardens • ‘group portrait’/garden art piece • learning&healing garden • ivy planters at • climbing • nasturium Where/Who can we look to for materials/other resources?

MATERIALS

• Leftover from Annual Sale at UBC • Demolition companies and Van Dusen • Pheonix perennials- donates a percentage • UBC gives away extra plants in spring of profits for a weekend • Van Dusen give-away program. • Local Nurseries • websites to get free items (some below) • Woodshops • freeservers.com • Home Depot • want on craigslist.com • BCIT Carpentry excess materials • free cycle • Local farmers markets • UBC storefront in DTES • Atlas pots- donates planters • The Stollery Foundation • Worm Castings from Urban Stream • www.urbanstream.ca • Donates food scraps and composting! • Tool share • HXBIA Tool Share Library • Strathcona BIA • Waste Exchange • Recycled materials from old houses etc. (for garden beds/terraces) Where/Who can we look to for materials/other resources? (cont’d)

PEOPLE FUNDING

• Ask to be suggested for volunteers that • Kickstarter are turned away from other places • Indiegogo • craigslist • Vancouver Greenest City Grant • Kits house • Vancity Enviro-Fund • school volunteer programs • Small Farmer Fund • 11-12 volunteer hours • Social Innovation Fund • Quest program • Donation Matching Corporations • Master Gardeners! • Projects in Place society volunteers • church volunteers • Vancouver Redeemer Church • Masonic Lodges • Orgs with 1-day volunteers (gov. law firms, etc.) for grunt/heavy work • UBC Volunteer Opportunity Facebook Group What community groups, events, businesses could this project be involved with, & vice versa?

• new businesses- coffee shops- coming • Booth @ Farmer’s Market (terminal @ into the community (getting involved) Main) • Atlas Pots- North Shore- Donating pots • Other farmer’s markets • Open Door Group • Union Gospel Mission (Community • Canadian Mental Health Association Resource Fair) • Vancouver Tool Library • Other Churches • Master Gardener Volunteers • St Mary’s fundraising • • SFU urban studies students • Wish Women’s Society & Swan- taking • Foodies care of space • UBC Ecology Students • Vancity • Trade Works • Gardenation event • Strathcona and Hastings crossing BIAs • Urban Tree Nursery • Mom 2 Mom Vancouver • Bike Coops • First Nation ALIVE How can we generate more media attention to draw funds and public attention to the project?

• Facebook • Honouring our main donors! • Bloom to Grow Group • Disabilities fest (aug) *open door group • Bloom to Grow page buzz • Twitter • Share with Friends (timelines, walls) • tweet to fellow gardeners • Invite friends to join group • big community orgs • Let people know about benefits of the • influencers garden • bloggers • Garden page - show your garden • Fundraising events • get users to interact with the page and • flowers sold @ cheaper price, spreading excited about gardening. word w each flower • Instagram • using specific big days- halloween, • #bloomtogrow canada day • pictures! • garage sale @ backyard- churches, • Posters community centres • cafes • Master gardener workshop • restaurants • Booths @ Van events (bake sale?, info?) • community locations • Community newspapers • Individual connections • Apply for vancouver foundation

What’s next? Garden Calendar and Opportunities for Involvement JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Present Begin Designs Promotions Final Design

• Design committee- next • Design committee • Design committee meeting July 10th • Promotions • Assist with design • Promotions • Fundraising presentation • Fundraising • Garden project social event • Promotions • First outreach committee • Fundraising meeting July 24th OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER ->

Begin Construction Garden opening Workshops and check-ins

• Outreach committee- • Assist with garden opening • Run a garden workshop coordinating/recruiting event • Assist with garden upkeep volunteers • Promotions - help • Assist with construction coordinate media attention • Assist with or help to and materials coordinate construction/ gardening workshops Thanks! Join our community on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloomgroupgarden/ The Bloom Group Garden Project Info Page http://www.thebloomgroup.org/2014/05/planting-seeds-healing- rejuvination-new-powell-street-garden/