PanFlora Gardens, a community garden in the 900 block of Pandora street, outside Our Place, was officially revealed yesterday. The community garden sprung forth from a few local citizens, who last June, imagined a place that would beautify, feed, calm, and connect the neighbourhood.
The Mayor, Lisa Helps, explained that the project came together from a small task force, hoping to address some of the challenges on the 900 block of Pandora, “Building on the gifts, assets and skills of those in attendance the PanFlora Garden took a challenge and turned it into a great opportunity to grow, together.”
Businesses owners, employees and citizens worked with the City of Victoria, the LifeCycles Project Society, and the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network to construct a pilot community garden on the boulevard.
Raised garden beds in wooden boxes have been planted with vegetable seedlings and willbe tended by volunteer gardeners from Our Place, residents, workers and business owners.
Don Evans, the executive director of Our Place spoke of his excitement to see what community would come from the garden and added, “There is a meditative and rewarding experience to gardening that offers people a small piece of tranquility.”
“Community gardens not only allow people to enjoy nutritious, locally-grown food, but also foster social connections and bolster wellbeing while enhancing biodiversity and the urban environment,” added Maurita Prato, Executive Director of LifeCycles Project Society.
