December 2019
villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood
Healthy food for families Stories from the Gift of Good Food program and how it has impacted local families
›› Mila Czemerys
“I
’m a single dad with a 13-yearold boy. Receiving the Gift of Good Food every two weeks for my son and myself has been amazing! The cost of food these days—and produce—I see it going up all the time. My son does not actually eat meat or junk food; he loves vegetables. [This program] has really helped us for his lunches and our meals. I’m a single parent so everything is more [expensive]. We live on one income so it has really impacted us in a healthy way and financially. People have to eat healthy and a lot of people don’t eat healthy in this town because they can’t afford it. I see other organizations providing vegetables but it’s all expired from the stores. It may be a bit healthy but it’s not fresh. This program here is fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables. It’s definitely well needed for especially low-income families and people that struggle financially.” This father was selected to receive the Gift of Good Food. He and his son have been receiving fresh produce every two weeks for this past year. He is still receiving food today. He shared how this gift goes beyond just his family, “I share the [Good Food Box] with one of my neighbours. She has a little boy and she’s a single mom. My son doesn’t eat all vegetables and I’m not a big vegetable person. It’s quite a lot for the two for us. I tend to split it in half and what my son and I don’t eat, I give to my neighbour. If it’s a lot of vegetables, like a bag of carrots for example, I will keep some for my son and hand some off to her as well. I think sharing is pretty cool!” The impact of this program is sometimes hard to put to words. It provides relief to local families who many not know how
The Gift of Good Food provides Good Food Boxes to families in need across Greater Victoria. Photo: Tyler Cave
they will be able to provide the next meal for their children. It shows families facing struggles that there are people in their community who care. It connects families with their closest neighbourhood house or community centre which in turn connects them to other support services at these organizations. It provides healthy, fresh food all year long instead just once during the holidays. This recipient summed it up, “Healthy food is the very foundation for a good life. This program makes a huge difference and is truly appreciated.” Shonna Bell, the Family Programs Coordinator at the Fernwood Community Centre, knows how important this program is for the families she works with. “There are families that need this support. People are already emailing us asking how they can be a part of the program and expressing their need.” This programs provides a food security resource for so many families across the region. A mom receiving the Gift of Good
Food, told this story, “My eldest daughter has started showing interest in cooking. She enjoys seeing what’s in the bag each time and coming up with a meal of her own. This program allows me and my girls to have fresh produce at times when I can’t afford them.” Another parent shared, “We look forward to the Good Food Box. When I bring the box into the house, my daughter and I are curious what we will find. My daughter will help with putting the goodies away while clinging to her favourite orange or pear. That is the great joy of my daughter.” The Gift of Good Food fundraiser— which is currently underway—is aiming to raise $100,000 and support 200 families with fresh fruit and vegetables. All funds raised go directly towards supporting families in need across Greater Victoria. Please consider donating; you can donate online or in person at the Fernwood Community Centre at 1240 Gladstone Avenue. A donation of $20 provides one Good Food Box for a family. A donation
Editorial
Feature
Buzz
New ED on the block page 2
The idea of neighbourhood page 4 & 5
Farewell Freedom Kilts page 6
of $500 supports a family for a whole year. This fundraising campaign runs until December 31st, 2019. There are also lots of other ways to support! Check out our website for events and promotions at local businesses. You can sign up to start a fundraising team or volunteer to help with the campaign. Want to learn more? Visit thegiftofgoodfood.ca/ donate. Our deepest thanks to everyone who has already donated, shared this fundraiser, volunteered, donated auction items, hosted an event, formed a fundraising team, supported through your business, and to all of our partners. This program would not be possible without you! Gratitude from one of our current recipients says it all, “The impact this program has on my life is immeasurable. It is a true blessing to know that my young family and I can eat healthy, fresh food and that people care enough to make this program possible.”
in this issue To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca
editorial:
villagevibe Editorial Committee
New ED on the block
Chantille Viaud Mila Czemerys Melissa Faye Reid Ruben Anderson Founding Editor Lisa Helps
›› Chantille Viaud
Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group
Contributors
Mila Czemerys Fernwood NRG Erin Gray Lee Herrin Kayla Siefried
Chantille Viaud Melissa Faye Reid Denise Stocco Lauren Gaultier Andrew Kerr
Art
Tyler Cave Moyu Koga Melissa Faye Reid Kayla Siefried
Axel Mila Czemerys Lauren Gaultier
Production Mila Czemerys Contact us
1240 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC V8T 1G6 T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509 info@fernwoodnrg.ca www.villagevibe.ca To enquire about advertising in the Village Vibe, please contact ads@fernwoodnrg.ca The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily reflect the views of Fernwood NRG.
declaration of principles & values ››
We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood;
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neighbourhood control or
institutions and assets; We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming financially self-reliant;
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We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;
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We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;
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We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;
››
Chantille Viaud in front of Toynbee Hall—the first neighbourhood house in the world. Photo courtesy of Chantille Viaud
to say hi and tell me what your hopes and dreams are for the future of Fernwood.
buzz:
Land swap between SD61 and City of Victoria approved
We are committed to ensuring
ownership of neighbourhood
››
When I was in London a couple of years ago, I dragged my friend all the way across town because I wanted to see the place that had started what is now an international movement. It’s called Toynbee Hall, it’s in East London, and it was the world’s first neighbourhood house, a place that was founded in the 1880’s to build community and tackle social challenges. Whether they’re called a neighbourhood house, a settlement house, a community centre, or a neighbourhood resource group, neighbourhood houses are the living room and the heart of a community. I’ve worked at a few different neighbourhood houses now, and though all communities are unique, the houses where I’ve worked have shared a common vision: to bring people together, to build bridges, and to create spaces where everyone feels included and where people feel they belong, no matter who they are. These
spaces are unique and wonderful and are part of what it takes to create a more just world and stronger community. This is why I am so excited to be the new Executive Director at Fernwood NRG, a neighbourhood house in the heart of my favorite community in Victoria. My son and I moved to Victoria just over a year ago to live with my partner and his son. When I asked my seven-year-old stepson what he loves about Fernwood, he said “I love the amazing pizza, also there’s a great park that we play in, and a few times I’ve seen a rat—I have!” It’s a pretty stellar endorsement. It goes without saying that Fernwood is amazing. I am grateful to Lee for pulling together such an amazing team and leaving such a significant legacy. I am excited to start working together, to find the strength in our diversity and to build an even more amazing community. In true neighbourhood house style, my door is always open and I hope you drop by
We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically
›› Fernwood NRG On the 25th of November, the Trustees of School District 61 (SD61) approved a land swap for various properties near Vic High. As reported in the April 2019 Village Vibe, this rationalizes a patchwork of land title and allows the School District to complete a land assembly. Ownership of Haegert Park, the land used by the Compost Education Centre, and Spring Ridge Common will transfer to the City of Victoria. With this land assembly, SD61 can negotiate a 60 year lease with the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC), who would like to build 154 units of affordable housing on the site. After the vote School Board Chair Jordan Watters noted: “[This project] benefits the community by allowing our partners to build
much-needed affordable housing. This arrangement demonstrates that when local governments work together to solve problems, the community benefits.” Fernwood NRG supported this land swap because affordable housing is core to our mandate and aligns with our Principles and Values. Our principles commit us to take action in response to neighbourhood issues, create neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive, and foster new links between neighbours. As an organization, we recognize the continuing crisis-level need for more affordable housing in our community, especially family-sized units. Every day our staff work with families who are struggling. It is for all of these reasons that Fernwood NRG supports the proposed new affordable housing project. At the same time we believe that the
CRHC, the City of Victoria, and SD61 have an important opportunity to demonstrate a higher degree of coordination, public engagement, and responsiveness going forward with this project. CRHC has held several public meetings in Fernwood and has modified their proposal based on community feedback. There will be public hearings held for rezoning—likely in late spring or summer. Fernwood NRG will be actively seeking to have diverse neighbourhood voices heard as this development progresses. We will be providing regular updates on any consultation and opportunities for engagement in the Village Vibe and on our Facebook page. We look forward to welcoming new neighbours to our community, and bringing people together to make our community even more awesome.
with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;
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We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;
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We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;
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We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;
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and, most of all, We are committed to having fun!
page 2
villagevibe
December 2019
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
buzz:
The City of Victoria grant program funds community lead initiatives My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program application opens March 2020
›› Melissa Faye Reid Do you have a project idea for your neighbourhood, but unsure the steps to achieve it? The My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program is a division of the municipal government that supports local residents animate public spaces, develop resilient communities, and leave positive legacies in their neighbourhoods. Since 2016, the
My Great Neighbourhood Grant has given $389,680 to 127 community-based projects. There are two types of grants available: placemaking and activity. Placemaking is a way for residents to reimagine and reinvent public spaces for community enjoyment. It focuses on community assets with the intention of creating spaces that support people’s overall wellbeing. Placemaking can look a variety of ways including murals, public benches, little free libraries, and gardens. The space for creativity is endless— likewise for activity grants. Activity grants can look many different ways and generally revolve around an event or workshop. Anyone living in the city of Victoria
can apply for a My Great Neighbourhood Grant with the support of a notfor-profit organization. Fernwood NRG can act as a sponsor for neighbourhood projects that will enhance the community. Before applying for a grant, you will need to meet with a neighbourhood advisor (a city representative). Once they’ve approved your project idea, Fernwood NRG can act as the NGO project sponsor. The My Great Neighbourhood Grant program allows local residents, who know their neighbourhoods better than anybody, create positive change at the grassroots level. The grant program seeks to empower local residents to make impactful changes
Fernwood’s Universal Child Care Prototype Site: a year in review Just over a year ago, our Child Care programs at the Fernwood Community Centre became one of the 53 Universal Child Care Prototype sites in BC. What an honour it has been to be a part of this initiative. Part of this funding came to us in the form of Improvement Grants and it has allowed us to imagine and implement upgrades to our programs in ways that could not have been done to this magnitude in the past. The biggest investment will happen in the upcoming upgrades to the outside play spaces for the Infant & Toddler and 3 to 5 programs. Families in our Child Care programs saw the benefit as a savings in their child care spending. Their fees were reduced to just $10.00 per day! What did this mean for them? Here is a letter for one of our families: “We are a family who was fortunate to have their daycare provider be selected
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
98 kids are currently enrolled at this Universal Child Care Prototype Site. Photo: Moyu Koga
for the Province’s $10.00 per day daycare pilot project. The benefits for our family have been more than we originally comprehended and go well beyond the obvious financial assistance of the program. We were able to relocate our finances to allow for saving for a down payment on a home in Victoria, our children’s RESPs, and our own retirement savings.
buzz:
FCA Survey
community centre:
›› Erin Gray
in their communities while strengthening interpersonal relationships. The next My Great Neighbourhood Grant application period opens March 1st, 2020. If you have community-based project idea—this is time to achieve it! Please contact Melissa, Events & Engagement Coordinator for Fernwood NRG, to speak about a project or learn more about this grant program at melissa@ fernwoodnrg.ca or 250-381-1509 x118.
The reduction of financial stress over the past year has helped us become a healthier and happier family. It has given us the freedom to enjoy family activities together that otherwise we may not have been able to afford. In the past year, we’ve enjoyed swimming and gym activities at recreation centres, visiting local attractions and museums, and weekend trips around the Island; which all ultimately goes right back into the BC economy. The experiences we’ve shared and memories created as a family have been priceless. The pilot program currently expires on March 2020 and to date there has been no word from the provincial government if it will continue. If the program does not continue, our daycare costs will increase to over $2,000 per month which will effectively eliminate further long term savings and limit family activities. We strongly urge the Province to recognize the importance of continuing the program in order to support BC families by providing affordable daycare to all.”
›› Denise Stocco In August 2019, the Fernwood Community Association (FCA) reached out to the residents of Fernwood to find out their likes, their needs, and their priorities in anticipation of the update of the neighborhood plan by the City of Victoria. A paper survey was distributed in the Village Vibe and in local stores. The survey was also available online. We are grateful to local businesses who accepted to have copies in their space: Castle Building Centre, The Local General Store, Fernwood Inn, Little June, Fernwood NRG, Parsonage Café, Koffi, and Wellburns. We are pleased to report that we got 425 surveys back. We want to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey. Results will inform ongoing discussions and engagement with the City regarding neighbourhood planning. We are grateful to The Fernwood Inn, Little June, Parsonage Café, and Belfry for their generosity in providing prizes for the draw. We are pleased to announce the winners: Jan Tyler Allen, Peggy Beere, Kathryn Juricic, Dan Kellow, Amaiah Paradine, J. & M. Sakaluk, Cat Weathers, and Adrian White. Prizes can be picked up at the FCA office, 1923 Fernwood Road, Tuesday to Friday between noon and 4:00pm.
December 2019
villagevibe
page 3
feature:
The idea of neighbourhood
›› Lee Herrin
I
n the summer of 1998, I struck up a conversation with Paul Philips on the streets of Fernwood. He was putting up posters around the neighbourhood advertising a meeting at the Fernwood Community Centre. I asked him what it was about; he said it was important to the future of the neighbourhood. I mentioned that I had just moved back to Fernwood after studying in Toronto—that is, that I had deliberately found a place a to live between Cook, Fort, Begbie and Bay. He said, “Then you’ll be there, right?” It didn’t really seem like a question. I agreed to attend. Little did I know how that decision would change the course of my life, and how ultimately important to the future of the neighbourhood my participation would turn out to be. I went to the meeting. It was the Annual General Meeting of the Fernwood Community Centre Society. There was a dispute about who should or should not be on the Board of the organization, and how the meeting should be run. I spoke up. The next thing I knew, I was nominated, and then elected to the Board. I became the Treasurer, and then the President. The years flew by. And then Fernwood started to sink. Over the years, I have spoken and written at length about the decline of the core of the neighbourhood from 20032005. My analysis then, as now, was that it was a question of control and ownership. That is, the owners have control. Others can influence, but influence isn’t control. Fernwood NRG’s Principles and Values reflect the era in which we wrote them. We felt that we needed to assert “neighbourhood control and ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets” (Principle #2) in order to restore Fernwood Village to its former glory. We found a way to purchase the boarded up Cornerstone Building in 2005, and we found funding to transform the illegal rooming house upstairs into affordable housing for families. It was an important step on our neighbourhood ownership journey. We renamed our organization the Fernwood Neighbourhood
page 4
villagevibe
The corner of Fernwood Road and Gladstone Avenue where the Cornerstone Building stands. In 2005, this building was boarded up and falling apart— a hole in the heart of our neighbourhood. With the help of countless volunteers, Fernwood NRG restored this building, opened the Cornerstone Cafe (now home to Little June), and built 4 units of affordable housing for families. Photo: Mila Czemerys
Resource Group Society in 2006 to better reflect our ambitions to support the whole neighbourhood, rather than just to manage the Community Centre. We opened the Cornerstone Café (1301 Gladstone) in 2006 as a first foray into social enterprise. The café was a beacon of hope for the neighbourhood that Fernwood was once again safe and whole, and that neigh-
December 2019
bourhood residents had a place to gather, share the news, and discuss issues. And that year, four families moved in our affordable family housing upstairs. The following year, the remainder of the building was tenanted on the commercial level, bringing that project to a successful conclusion. The funders who had supported our housing project in the Cornerstone Build-
ing urged us to take on another project. In 2008 we purchased two vacant lots on Yukon Street. We consolidated them and obtained significant funding to build the Park Place Apartments at 1222 Yukon— creating another six units of affordable family housing. Unfortunately, the global recession hit soon after, which negatively impacted the funding environment halting
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
our development activities for the next five years. I became Executive Director in the fall of 2009. At that time, I had been on the Board of Directors for most of 11 years, and so had enough knowledge of and passion for the organization that I seemed like a good choice for the position. Looking back, it’s amazing how fast the past ten years have gone by, and also how much we’ve achieved in that time. In 2013, we rolled the café operations into a subsidiary taxable corporation in compliance with rules for charities. That also opened the door to expansion of our business activities. Later that year, we added Studio 1313 Hair Design to our group. Studio 1313 was formerly Studio 1284 across in Fernwood Square. When the owner needed to move her business but wanted to stay in Fernwood, we made space in the Cornerstone Building. When she was ready to retire, we maintained the business as part of the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group. We came to a similar arrangement with Rachel Sadava of the Fernwood Yoga Den last year. The Yoga Den had been successful and needed to expand— we created a beautiful new studio space in the new building at 1310 Gladstone and the Yoga Den became part of the Fernwood NRG family last year. We did eventually say goodbye to the Cornerstone Café in 2018. But we sold it to an ownership group that lives in Fernwood and has deep roots in the neighbourhood. We were able to ensure that long term, Fernwood’s important assets remain in the neighbourhood. In 2012 we added Neighbourhood Food Security as a goal in our strategic plan. Since then, we’ve taken on the operations of the Good Food Box and moved it to weekly operations. We’ve developed the annual Gift of Good Food fundraiser which supports nearly 200 families a year across the Capital Region. We built a beautiful edible garden in front of the Community Centre, and an orchard on the slope in the back.
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
We added a weekly family dinner and more recently, a weekly student dinner. All of these activities are designed to create bonds between neighbours while ensuring everyone has enough to eat. In 2014, we started to rebuild our Out of School Care program at George Jay school. It has taken a few years, but we have built it up to 60 spaces—30 at the Community Centre and 30 at the school. Child care has always been the core of our operations, and it is likely to continue to expand in the near future as more space becomes available in the neighbourhood. Today, we care for 105 children each day. Over the past twenty years, child care has been poorly funded—until two years ago. Since then, demand has grown as child care has become more affordable. Fernwood NRG was exceptionally lucky to be selected as one of the Universal Child Care Prototype sites in November of 2018—making $10 a day child care a reality for Fernwood families. We are hopeful that this program will continue beyond the end of the prototype at the end of March 2020. With the conclusion of our project at 1310 Gladstone last year, I evaluated whether or not I wanted to be part of Fernwood’s next great chapter or whether it was time to pass the torch. I still have a few years left in my own career and I have decided there are other goals I want to pursue that take me out of the neighbourhood. The next few years will be critical in the future of the neighbourhood, due to the intensity of redevelopment around the Vic High site, and the pressures on the schools from so many more children and teenagers in the City. Fernwood NRG’s Board of Directors has selected a capable new leader in Chantille Viaud, and I wish her, the Board of Directors, my former staff at Fernwood NRG, and everyone in the neighbourhood the best of luck. It is my sincere hope that I have left the organization and the neighbourhood well-poised to triumph whatever the future may hold.
December 2019
villagevibe
page 5
buzz:
Farewell Freedom Kilts One of Fernwood’s long time businesses is retiring their store front after 15 years in the neighbourhood
›› Melissa Faye Reid Steve Ashton, wearing a green patterned kilt with socks (called hose) landing just below his knees, walked into Little June café with wife, Bobbie Williams. Ashton is the owner and kilt maker and Williams is the office manager of Freedom Kilts. Freedom Kilts has been a landmark of Fernwood for 15 years, specializing in contemporary kilts which are a blend of traditional and utility kilts. An unofficial Fernwood historian, Ashton quizzed me on my knowledge of
the neighbourhood, which, I’ll be the first to admit, I knew very little in comparison. The building kitty-corner to Little June used to be the Imperial Bakery and if you look closely, can still see the name. The Fernwood Inn used to be in the original store front of Freedom Kilts before they moved into the Cornerstone building until finally settling into a house (formally a Buddhist temple) beside the Fernwood Community Association. “I’m a maker—I make things,” says Ashton. Although Ashton has no ‘official’ Scottish genealogy, Ashton read “The Art of Kiltmaking” by Barbara Tewksbury and thought, I can do that! Since then Ashton, has been customizing and renting contemporary kilts (with pockets!) for the wider community—even former mayor, Dean Fortin, owns one of Ashton’s kilts. He also created a tartan specifically for the city of Victoria. On the Freedom Kilts website I read a
years owning a retail shop, Ashton and Williams are retiring their store front. Ashton will still be taking orders, but from the comfort of his home. They are excited to announce the change of hand to Knotty By Nature, a fiber art business. Fernwood will miss Freedom Kilts, but no doubt welcome Knotty by Nature with open arms. Until then, keep an eye out for Ashton’s book. As Ashton states, “every person’s time on this earth is finite. We are born, we live, love learn, and at some time, we all die. The strength of the human race is our ability, our willingness to pass on to the next generation that which we have learned.” Bobbie Williams and Steve Ashton outside their storefront, Freedom Kilts, at 1919 Fernwood
Knotty By Nature will be hosting an Indigenous
Road. Photo: Melissa Faye Reid
Artists Winter Solstice Pop Up on Friday, December 20th (5:00 - 9:00pm) and Saturday,
phrase, Swish + Swagger = Swoon. Williams answered my inquiry stating, “Women noticed the butts of men in kilts.” After
December 21st (10:00am - 4:00pm) at 1919 Fernwood Road before officially opening up in January 2020.
community eats:
Standard Pizza: play on words or easy explanation? ›› Lauren Gaultier When asked how owner Matt Viellette came up with the name Standard Pizza, he said that before opening people kept asking “what kind of pizzas will you make?” As he hadn’t yet discovered the term Neo-Neapolitan, his response was “standard.” Since opening in early 2015 on the corner of Pandora and Cook, his growing customer base has come up with a new meaning for the name: it sets the standard. Prior to opening this shop, Viellette built up years of experience across the globe working in, and operating, a wide range of restaurants. He has spent time specializing in baking, cheese making, fine dining, and even smoking fish. When he found out his local bakery was shutting
down, he jumped at the opportunity to fill the space. It wasn’t long before his original team of three quietly opened their doors and started dishing out pizza reminiscent of both Italy and New York; curated with the best quality ingredients. Being a Fernwood resident, selecting our community for his business location was both a simple and strategic decision. As he puts it, “Fernwood is a corridor between Oaklands, Oak Bay, downtown, and Fairfield”—those residents make up 99 per cent of his client base. His goal for Standard Pizza has always been longevity; a place serving locals and becoming the ‘Cheers’ of pizzeria—where everyone knows your name (and your order). If you are already a fan of Standard’s take-away wood-fired, brick oven pizza,
(Left) Standard Pizza’s classic margherita pizza. (Right) Their woodfire oven. Photo: Lauren Gaultier
you will be happy to learn that they have recently expanded their space and have plans to extend their hours. They keep broadening their offerings continuing to solidify their commitment to our community. If you haven’t been
there yet, what are you waiting for? Head down after 5:00pm from Wednesday to Sunday to find out what all the hype is about. You can peruse their menu online at standardpizza. ca and check out @standardpizzayyj for specials.
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*Therapeutic one-on-one or small group sessions available
Ph: 250-381-7473
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1275 Bay Street
*referrals not required
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(at Fernwood) *free parking
RISE TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH page 6
villagevibe
December 2019
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
garden gleanings:
Fungi everywhere! ›› Kayla Siefried In the autumn, when you are on a walk in your local patch of forest, you’ll easily notice the abundance of mushrooms in various shades of brown, orange, yellow, blue, and purple too! When collected very cautiously and mindfully—with the expertise required for such a thing—mushrooms are an amazing source of food and medicine for people. If foraging isn’t possible for you, cultivating your own mushrooms—from spawn grown by experienced mushroom growers—can be a viable and exciting process. Recently at the Compost Education Centre (CEC), we hosted two “Growing Mushrooms” workshops taught by expert grower and experimenter Vadim Junea. Lucky for CEC staff, Vadim left behind a bag of straw inoculated with oyster mushroom. Late in November, we were able to harvest beautiful, edible mushrooms that fruited happily from the bag of straw. Mushrooms are the fruiting body of mycelium; a vast network of interconnected cells that weaves its way through the soil ecosystem. Mushrooms are essentially the reproductive mechanism that mycelium use to spread spores far and wide to ensure the survival of their species. Mycelium and mushrooms play an incredibly important role in a healthy and vibrant soil ecosystem, supporting plant growth, fixing nitrogen, feeding plants, supporting plant connections, decomposing dead organic matter, and some just happen to be medicinal and nutritious.
Vadim Junea drilling holes in the cherry tree trunk for turkey tail spawn. Photo: Kayla Siefried
Another fungal experiment at the CEC featured the inoculation of our old cherry tree (which has been very sick for years with a bacterial disease) with turkey tail mushroom spawn. The purpose is to accelerate decomposition of the tree stump, while growing healthy mycelial networks in the surrounding perennial tree, flower, herb, and berry garden. The end goal is to have a decomposed cherry tree stump, growth of remarkably medicinal turkey tail mushrooms, and a healthy fungal dominated soil ecosystem, to support the health and wellness of the soil in our front entrance welcome garden. Feel free to pop by the CEC and see what mushrooms are fruiting today!
opinion:
MONDAY
Opportunity for affordable housing ›› Andrew Kerr I choose to live in Fernwood because so many of its values align with my own. We are a neighbourhood with a strong sense of community, a passion for civic engagement and a deep desire to care for all of our neighbours, including across socioeconomic divides. As our city grapples with a worsening affordability crisis, I have become increasingly concerned that our neighbourhood is becoming financially inaccessible—both for current and prospective residents. This is a crisis which, first and foremost, affects renters. At 39%, our city has the second lowest percentage of homeowners in Canada. With some of the lowest vacancy rates and highest rental costs in the country, losing one’s home is a real risk that affects people of all ages, including high school-aged youth—the 2018 Greater Victoria Point-in-Time Count found that 41% of our city’s unhoused population first
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
FERNWOOD NRG WINTER PROGRAMS JANUARY - APRIL 2020
experienced homelessness before the age of 18. Moreover, waitlists for social housing are extremely long. In June 2018, there were 994 households on the BC Housing waitlist in the CRD. With the Caledonia redevelopment project, we are being presented with an incredible opportunity to improve the lives of families, seniors, persons living with disabilities, and many others who would benefit from its 154 units of affordable rental housing. That said, this project isn’t without risks—the displacement of current M’akola and CRHC tenants is a serious concern that needs to be centred. It’s been said that this issue is dividing the community. I think the opposite is true—through it, I have developed even stronger relationships with my neighbours. Through collective advocacy, our neighbourhood can do its part to lead this city out of the housing crisis. We can build a community that we’re not only proud of, but one we can afford, too.
Fernwood Family Dinner $5 donation/drop-in Nuu Chah Nulth Drumming (Closed Group)
5:00pm – 7:00pm 7:30pm – 10:00pm
TUESDAY Breastfeeding Solutions Seniors High Tea & Yoga Nobody’s Perfect VSSC Dodgeball
Register*, free Drop-in, $2 Register*, free Preregister with VSSC
10:00am – 1:00pm 11:30am – 2:00pm 6:00pm – 8:00pm 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Register*, free Order at thegoodfoodbox.ca Preregister with VSSC
11:00am – 1:00pm 1:00pm – 8:00pm 8:00pm – 10:00pm
WEDNESDAY Best Babies (6-12 months) Good Food Box Pick-up VSSC Dodgeball
THURSDAY Family Resource Program Best Babies (0-6 months) VSSC Dodgeball
Drop-in, by donation Register*, free Preregister with VSSC LGBTQ Narcotics Anonymous Drop-in, free
9:30am – 11:30am 11:00am – 1:00pm 6:00pm – 10:00pm 7:00pm – 8:00pm
FRIDAY Mother Goose (2 & under) Free Family Legal Clinic Seniors’ Lunch (55+)
Drop-in, free Register*, free $4/drop-in
11:00am – 11:45am 11:00am – 1:00pm 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Closures January 1 and 2, February 17, April 10 2020.
*Register for in-house programs at the Fernwood Community Centre front desk
SPECIAL EVENTS Vinyl Fair - March 7
For more information & to register contact: Fernwood Community Centre 1240 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 1G6 250.381.1552 x100 | info@fernwoodnrg.ca
fernwoodnrg.ca/fernwood-nrg-programs/recreation/
December 2019
villagevibe
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Scene in Fernwood : The Gift of Good Food
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