Work began on Wednesday to turn part of the lawn outside Vancouver City Hall into a community garden, which will grow produce that will be donated to food providers in the Downtown Eastside.
The initiative was recommended by the Greenest City Action Team — which includes David Suzuki and former premier Mike Harcourt — as one of their suggestions to make the city greener.
“There is a huge demand from people in Vancouver to have the opportunity to grow their own food,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “There are waiting lists for community gardens across the city.”
A portion of the community garden space will be allocated to communal plots and volunteers – including city staff – will tend the plots and donate the produce.
The city and Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) are working together to develop and design the garden.
“Converting a portion of the under-used City Hall lawn for gardening is something that should have happened a long time ago for a city that likes to talk about being green,” said Robertson.
