Canada: Greater Vancouver community gardens receive massive vegetable, flower donation
Urban Roots Garden Markets, the operators of seven pop-up garden markets throughout the Greater Vancouver area donated the goods, valued at around $100,000.
By Vanessa Doban and Charlie Carey
NEWS 1130
Jun 12, 2021
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Over 30,000 vegetables and plants were donated to community gardens Saturday, in an effort to combat food insecurity throughout the Lower Mainland.
Urban Roots Garden Markets, the operators of seven pop-up garden markets throughout the Greater Vancouver area donated the goods, valued at around $100,000.
The donation also includes many plants that are pollinators, which will hope to increase the declining bee and butterfly populations.
“We have the resources and I believe, the obligation to take care of our neighbors in need,” CEO Bill Barr says in a statement released Saturday.
“Food insecurity is a not-so-hidden tragedy in our region and community gardens are an important part of the solution. Growing plentiful and high-quality vegetables can have an exponential impact in providing good quality food to hungry families.”
Read More: Metro Vancouver gardens getting big plant donation to tackle food insecurity
General Manager Ron Murphy says the COVID-19 pandemic was also a big part of the reason for the donation.
“We’ve all lived through the past two years of insecurity and unawareness. Gardening … it’s mental therapy; it’s good for the soul. It also provides you with a sustainable food source, that is not very expensive to to get into,” he says.
Murphy adds all the product sent out is brand new, ready-to-plant product, not overstock or anything nearing an expiration date.
“We got a lot of responses from community gardens, from elementary schools who want to educate children about pollinators and the food supply chain, a lot of transition houses and charitable events,” Murphy says.
He adds he wants to continue educating people on food sustainability, and plans to make this an annual event.
– With files from Nikitha Martins and Bailey Nicholson
