Discover Sooke

Something very special is growing on Phillips Road. Facilitated by the Sooke Food Community Health Initiative (CHI), the Sunriver Allotment Garden is a budding community within a community.

Resurrected on 2.5 acres,  the Sunriver Allotment Garden consists of about 60 plots for use by local families. The idea behind the garden is to both build awareness about local food production and enhance the community within Sooke. For just $50 residents can rent a garden plot for the season to grow any variety of flowers, fruits and vegetables they choose. The garden enables people to grow their own produce who either don’t have access to land with optimal gardening conditions or who are looking for a rewarding, community-enhancing experience.

The community garden offers an eco-friendly, cost-effective alternative to designing a garden in one’s own backyard. One of the practical advantages is that the garden is surrounded by proper deer fencing and rabbit wire. The garden also makes provisions for all the critters and pests that typically gravitate to gardens. For example, volunteers are gearing up to create small pond-like areas for frogs and toads, to encourage the natural culling of pesky worms and bugs, and rock piles (the “Scream Zone”) will be assembled as safe havens for snakes, natures pure approach to rodent management. In fact, everything in the garden’s infrastructure is as eco-friendly and natural as possible. And, nearly all of it was donated by local businesses and organizations.

This is part of the magic of the Sunriver Allotment Garden; it’s a true community project. From the individualized plots, giving the grounds charm and character, to the beautiful gazebo—a communal gathering place, to the artistically-painted work shed, the garden shines as an example of what the Sooke community is capable of.

DiscoverSooke recently spoke with Phoebe Dunbar, Sooke Food CHI volunteer and driving force behind the project; watch the video below.

The official garden dedication takes place on Saturday, June 19 at 6pm with the Solstice Potluck Garden Dinner Party. Celebrations will take place in the Sunriver Garden Gazebo, donated by Sooke Marine Industries. Everyone is welcome!

The Sunriver Allotment Garden is located on Phillips Road, north of the entrance to Sunriver Estates. If you would like to volunteer or garden with the Sunriver Allotment Garden please contact Diane 250-704-8699 or  Phoebe at 250-642-4342.

Don’t forget to check out the official Discover Sooke Online website to learn more about Sooke businesses and our community: www.discoversooke.com.

Filed under: Latest News on May 28th, 2010