The Bloom Group Garden projecTDesign Charrette

Summary of reflectionSby 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

introductioncharrette 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, the 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? Because of our amazing project, of course!

Basically the deal is that we have been engaged by a wonderful organization called the Bloom group which is undergoing an expansion at one of its shelters. the shelter, Powell Place, will be doubling its capacity to provide beds for 52 women who are facing difficulties or fleeing from violent situations. it will include a new industrial kitchen, medical rooms, learning spaces, and... a 2,000 sq’ courtyard 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!

tHe Bloom GrouP: • non-profit organization • located in the Downtown east

side• operating since 1961 (formerly

called the St James community Services Society)

• Provides housing, health and social services to vulnerable individuals

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 GarDen DeSiGn concepts & plans for moving forward

- anticipate challenges - create loose spatial plans

cHarrette aGenDa

introsProject Summary Presentation Healing Gardens Presentation

food BreakBreakout Brainstorming activities

cottage Hospice Garden tourBreakout activity Debrief

Design activityclosing 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 Gardeners 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 Gardener. 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 designers.

• CLOsing stateMents announcement of our upcoming gardening 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

• art classes• shared gardening amongst residents• shared gardening/food growing classes

for residents• shared resident meals/barbeques• holiday events• seasonal planting/harvest events

FeatUres

• pathways leading to private and common areas

• outdoor ‘yard’/living space for Santiago • pavers and plant signs (see fir Square)• holiday decorations• food planters- fruit/bumbleberries,

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 balconies• climbing roses• nasturium

Where/Who can we look to for materials/other resources?

MateriaLs

• leftover plants from annual Sale at uBc and Van Dusen

• uBc gives away extra plants in spring• Van Dusen give-away program.• websites to get free items (some below)• freeservers.com• want on craigslist.com• free cycle• uBc storefront in DteS• 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)

• Demolition companies• Pheonix perennials- donates a percentage

of profits for a weekend• local nurseries• Woodshops• Home Depot• Bcit carpentry excess materials• local farmers markets• atlas pots- donates planters

PeOPLe

• ask to be suggested for volunteers that are turned away from other places

• craigslist• Kits house• school volunteer programs• grade 11-12 volunteer hours• Quest program• 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

Where/Who can we look to for materials/other resources? (cont’d)

FUnDing

• Kickstarter• indiegogo• Vancouver Greenest city Grant• Vancity enviro-fund • Small farmer fund• Social innovation fund• Donation matching corporations

• Booth @ farmer’s market (terminal @ main)

• other farmer’s markets• union Gospel mission (community

resource fair)• other churches• St mary’s fundraising• Sfu urban studies students• foodies• uBc ecology Students

What community groups, events, businesses could this project be involved with, & vice versa?

• new businesses- coffee shops- coming into the community (getting involved)

• atlas Pots- north Shore- Donating pots• open Door Group• canadian mental Health association• Vancouver tool library• master Gardener Volunteers•• Wish Women’s Society & Swan- taking

care of space• Vancity• trade Works• Gardenation event• Strathcona and Hastings crossing Bias• urban tree nursery• mom 2 mom Vancouver• Bike coops• first nation aliVe

• facebook• Bloom to Grow Group• Bloom to Grow page buzz• Share with friends (timelines, walls)• invite friends to join group• let people know about benefits of the

garden• Garden page - show your garden • get users to interact with the page and

excited about gardening.• instagram• #bloomtogrow• pictures!• Posters• cafes • restaurants• community locations• community newspapers• individual connections• apply for vancouver foundation

how can we generate more media attention to draw funds and public attention to the project?

• Honouring our main donors!• Disabilities fest (aug) *open door group• twitter• tweet to fellow gardeners• big community orgs• influencers• bloggers• fundraising events• flowers sold @ cheaper price, spreading

word w each flower• using specific big days- halloween,

canada day• garage sale @ backyard- churches,

community centres• master gardener workshop• Booths @ Van events (bake sale?, info?)

WhaT’s nexT? garden Calendar and Opportunities for involvementJULY

Begin Designs

• Design committee- next meeting July 10th

• Promotions• fundraising• first outreach committee

meeting July 24th

aUgUst

Present DesignsPromotions

• Design committee• Promotions• fundraising• Garden project social event

sePteMBer

Final Design

• Design committee• assist with design

presentation• Promotions• fundraising

OCtOBer

Begin Construction

• outreach committee- coordinating/recruiting volunteers

• assist with construction• assist with or help to

coordinate construction/gardening workshops

nOVeMBer

garden opening

• assist with garden opening event

• Promotions - help coordinate media attention and materials

DeCeMBer ->

Workshops and check-ins

• run a garden workshop• assist with garden upkeep

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/