Member Spotlight: Meet Pat

Pat at the beginning of the garden's transformation.

 Every time Pat passed the old lot next to the Astoria Hotel, he felt depressed as the space was overgrown with weeds and plant beds were in a state of decay. However, Pat sensed there was great opportunity to turn the space into something useful. Conversations began to identify the lease holder, and whether or not they had plans to relinquish the space. 

 Shortly after discussions occurred, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leading to an increased need for food programs in the Downtown Eastside. As a professor at the University of British Columbia, Pat had connections to various organizations around the city including the Neighbourhood House where many of his students were placed via one of his courses. He realized the opportunity to blend his passion for gardening into something to benefit the Neighbourhood House, especially during this time of need. So, he began negotiating an agreement with the owners of the space.

Having been raised on a farm, Pat has a knack for how to grow things. After getting access to the space on May 11th of this year, Pat and a large group of volunteers began the process of rebuilding the space. “We had really dedicated volunteers,” Pat said, with some individuals working every day despite the many days of rain and the large amount of labour involved. Now, four months later, the space boasts substantial amounts of nutritious produce. The vegetables from the garden are currently being used in our community lunches and hamper program. We have also begun distributing the fresh produce on Fridays between 3:30pm and 5:00pm. 

The garden does not only serve the need for fresh and quality food in the community, but also acts as an extension of the Neighbourhood House space. The garden’s plans included adding spaces for programming, which have been especially useful given the pandemic. For example, Family Drop-ins now regularly occur in the garden, where families have been invited to harvest their own vegetables on Thursdays between 3:30 and 5:00pm. This program allows for people of all ages, especially children, to learn about the benefits of the urban farm. 

While Pat has had a lot of experience with gardens, he has also learned a lot from the individuals who come by. From discussing uses of different vegetables to the variety of plant species that exist, Pat hopes the space can be used to share and accumulate the wide range of knowledge that is present in the community. Pat also hopes the garden brings awareness to the need for more green space and affordable housing in the area.