Let's Talk About Community Gardens!
What happening?
Transition Sooke and Sooke Food CHI are embarking on a mission to cultivate a new community garden right near the heart of our Town Centre.
Their vision and goal?
To create not just a space for gardening, but a thriving hub of community engagement, education, and sustainable food production.
Their goal is to locate and develop approximately 2025 m2 of available land, crafting 50 allotment garden beds and 50 m2 of common gardens. Why? Because there's a real desire for more allotment garden space in Sooke, and they are keen to make itContinue reading
Let's Talk About Community Gardens!
What happening?
Transition Sooke and Sooke Food CHI are embarking on a mission to cultivate a new community garden right near the heart of our Town Centre.
Their vision and goal?
To create not just a space for gardening, but a thriving hub of community engagement, education, and sustainable food production.
Their goal is to locate and develop approximately 2025 m2 of available land, crafting 50 allotment garden beds and 50 m2 of common gardens. Why? Because there's a real desire for more allotment garden space in Sooke, and they are keen to make it happen.
How we got here?
The journey began with a presentation to the District of Sooke Council, where Transition Sooke laid out site assessment criteria and proposed potential locations. If you'd like more details, click here (pages 217-225) for a summary of the extensive community garden site selection process.
Staff provided a follow-up report to the Transition Sooke request at the May 27, 2024 Regular Council meeting which resulted in the following resolution:
THAT Council direct staff to work with Sooke Transition Town Society (STTS) and Sooke Region Food CHI Society (Food CHI) to conduct public engagement on the feasibility of establishing a pilot community allotment garden project at Woodland Creek Park and Ponds Park Corridor and report back to Council on the findings.
How you can be involved?
From June 24, 2024, to July 7, 2024, Transition Sooke and the Sooke Food CHI Society will be reaching out to you, our community, to gather your input on these prospective garden locations. Your voice matters – together, we'll shape the future of community gardening in Sooke.
More About the Proposed Sites:
Woodland Creek Park is a 1.3 hectare site with an established trail network, bench seating, playground equipment and a natural pond. The park is classified as a Neighbourhood Park in the Parks and Trails Master Plan (PTMP) which are intended to serve the catchment area and typically includes play equipment, pathways, open grass, seating and other recreation amenities. Access is via Callumwood Land, Arranwood Drive, Noblewood Place and Ponds Parks Corridor with minimal neighbouring parking. However, there may be an opportunity to collaborate with School District 62 to support parking in relatively close proximity outside of school hours (at Ecole Poirier).
Ponds Park Corridor is classified as a Linear Park in the PTMP. Linear Parks are generally for the purpose of supporting trail networks with some amenities such as benches, staging areas and plantings. The development of Carter Navarette Dog Park was an initiative identified in the PTMP and completed in 2023 with the construction of a shelter, benches, fenced off-leash area and water. Access is via Acreman Place or trails from Townsend Road and Church Road with minimal neighbouring parking.
Join us on this journey as we sow the seeds of change and cultivate a greener, more connected Sooke. Together, we'll make our community bloom!
