Beauty and bountiful nutrition is blooming around Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所榯ent city害羞草研究所�.

Debbie, a resident of the popular encampment along the rail-trail, is the brains behind the blossoming community garden. She broke ground after being gifted a couple of seedlings. Since then, the garden has grown plentifully.

Garth, her partner, is the 害羞草研究所渕uscle害羞草研究所� behind the project and Kismet, her puppy, provides snuggles.

害羞草研究所淲hen I first mentioned it to bylaw, they kind of rolled their eyes at me,害羞草研究所� said Debbie. 害羞草研究所淣ow that they害羞草研究所檝e seen it, they害羞草研究所檙e more on board.害羞草研究所�

Debbie hopes that by 害羞草研究所渂eautifying害羞草研究所� the encampment, people will start to see the humanity of those experiencing homelessness.

害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 see us as people,害羞草研究所� said Debbie.

She said that her community can hear the degrading remarks pedestrians make as they pass by, and it hurts their feelings.

害羞草研究所淢aybe if we make it prettier along here, it would give people something to be proud of害羞草研究所� and people would see us as human.害羞草研究所�

She said that there has been great community involvement in the project and that residents have been enjoying the flowers and produce from the garden.

During the interview at 害羞草研究所榯ent city害羞草研究所� residents of the encampment came up to Debbie, asking for direction on harvesting vegetables and to ask permission to add some plants of their own.

She said that having a productive project to work on, like a garden, gives people a purpose, which is beneficial for mental health.

害羞草研究所淲hen you don害羞草研究所檛 have things to do, it can become destructive.害羞草研究所�

Debbie hopes to grow even more produce next year. This year, the garden boasts a harvest of zucchini, kale, tomatoes, strawberries and cauliflower, to name a few.

She wants to give the residents increased access to fresh and healthy foods, like vegetables, since the donated food that residents of the encampment rely on is typically processed and non-perishable.

Debbie is also growing an assortment of flowers, planted around the vegetables. Garth is typically in charge of watering the plants, an arduous task in the hot summers with only a single water fountain to use.

Next spring, she would like to hold a plant swap where locals could exchange cuttings of prolific plants to expand their garden variety.

After being gifted an armful of fresh-picked produce, Capital News reports that the zucchinis and tomatoes are delicious.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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