October 17, 2011

Wow! This project has been so much fun and such a great experience! It’s been a great chance to get together with others and make a difference in our community. The project has gone really well: many neighbours participated, we raised awareness in the neighbourhood and grew lots of food! Although the finale event is coming up, we will be keeping the boxes on the boulevards and we’ll be growing food all year round. We’ve planted some radishes, garlic, broad beans and broccoli that we hope will grow through the winter!

The Boulevard Veg project, along with a few other generation green projects, were featured in the Vancouver Foundation articles in the Province and Vancouver Sun. You can view the article on the Generation Green blog or here: http://projects.vancouverfoundationawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/VanFdn-Province-GenerosityBC-20112.jpg It talks about my neighbour, Wendy and I and our experiences with the project!

I’d like to thank all my neighbours for being great participants and helping to make Boulevard Veg a great success! I’d also like to thank the Vancouver Foundation for helping me put my ideas to action and create such a fun project! It was awesome!

August 29, 2011

We’ve been having a lot of fun throughout these past few weeks with the Boulevard VEG planter boxes! All 9 families have been enjoying this exciting opportunity to learn more about gardening and make a positive environmental impact. It’s been great to be able to go out to the boulevard and pick some fresh, organic and super local colourful bush beans, purple carrots or huge red, white and pink radishes for a salad at dinner! We’ve also dug up some delicious potatoes and harvested some huge beets and green onions.

The boxes are all really full of delicious vegetables and contain a colourful variety of plants. All the neighbours have been enjoying this learning experience which has brought the neighbourhood together. Participants are trying new things and sharing their stories and what they’ve learned about gardening with each other. As well, many other people from around the neighburhood have noticed the project and shared positive feedback. We’re now starting to plant some veggies that can grow into the fall and winter to extend the harvest all year long!

This project has been a wonderful opportunity for neighbours to get together, learn, try new things, make a difference, spread the word and enjoy some delicious food! We’ve had lots of fun and success!

August 5, 2011

We’ve recently been enjoying our first harvests of radishes, beets and carrots. The veggies all taste delicious and it’s great to know that they’re organic and we’ve grown them from seeds here in the neighbourhood! The other vegetables, including potatoes, bush beans and onions are well on their way and will also be ready to harvest soon!

One neighbour has filled his planter boxes with an amazing variety of vegetables! In just three boxes, he’s been able to grow tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, potatoes and strawberries. He’s already been able to harvest a wonderful crop!

July 18, 2011

All twenty planter boxes have been built and are up at nine houses! The boxes are all on the boulevards, except at one house where they are in the backyard to provide access for a wheelchair. Many neighbours of all ages have helped with the project and are taking care of the plants. We’ve been watering the vegetables and spraying them with soapy water to keep the bugs away.

This project has already brought the community together and spread environmental awareness. There has been a lot of interest in the project from the whole community and many neighbours walking their dogs around the neighbourhood have noticed the boxes. Also, many participants have learned more about gardening and have had the chance to start growing food for their very first time!

The vegetables are doing well and have managed to grow quickly even with this cloudy weather. They are greening the neighbourhood and making the streets look brighter and more colourful! The planters are now filled with beets, beans, potatoes, carrots, radishes, scallions and onions. We’re all excited to harvest the first veggies and enjoy the organic, nutritious and local food.

June 23, 2011

Half of the boxes (10) are in place on the boulevards! The boxes are planted with a variety of veggies including carrots, broccoli, potatoes, beets, onions and bush beans. Many neighbours have already gotten involved in the project by setting up, watering and taking care of the plants. We’re still building the next ten boxes and are excited to get them all up!

June 16, 2011

The planter boxes are in process and have been coming along nicely! With help from my mom and brother, I’ve started sawing, drilling and putting them together. So far, we’ve built seven boxes and 6 families on our block will be participating in the project.

I would like to thank Dunbar Lumber for giving us a discount on the wood. Due to their generosity, we can now build 20 boxes in total.

I’m excited to put the planter boxes up and get the neighbours involved in the first planting!

May 16, 2011

The Generation Green launch event was very exciting! Below are some pictures from the event.

After the launch event, I got my project started by sending out 20 fliers to the neighbours on my street. I’m looking forward to seeing who wants to participate and getting the neighbourhood involved. I’m excited to start building some planter boxes and start planting!

May 12, 2011

Welcome to the Boulevard Vancouver Edible Gardens (VEG) project! I will be building planter boxes for vegetable gardens on the boulevards in my neighbourhood. During the summer, we’ll be growing radishes, carrots, onions, bush beans and beets in the boxes and leeks, kale, broccoli, cabbage and garlic during the winter. We’ll be organizing some community harvests in order to share the veggies among all the participants.

I hope that this project will bring the community together to learn about the environment and get involved in growing local and organic food. I hope that eventually, this project will spread to other neighbourhoods and make a big difference!

I’m really excited to start working on this project and get my neighbours involved!