What's new at Sandown? Check out what we've been up to since our last update!
Since last month there's been lots of activity at Sandown! Forest stewards continue to clear the trees of ivy, community gardeners have begun preparing the soil, farmers have been busy planting seeds in the greenhouse, and so much more! As the weather warms folks want to get outside and feel connected to the land. Read on to find out what we've been up to and don't hesitate to reach out if you want to get involved! There is still some availability both in our community gardens and in our regenerative home gardener course.
Many thanks to Amber and Tenaya, two UVic students from SOSC 300 Working in Community class, who have updated our interactive online map! Check it out by clicking the link below or by heading to the bottom of the homepage on our website.
You can still sign up for the regenerative home gardener course! Contact Steph at theregenerativehomegardener@gmail.com
to sign up or for more info.
There is also availability in our raised beds in the community gardens! We recently had a meet and greet with new gardeners where Emily, the new community gardens coordinator introduced herself. Members from ReWood (a volunteer-led initiative that uses salvaged lumber to build infrastructure for community gardens) were also present! Check out the Times Colonist article below that finds nearly half the waste going to the Landfill could be recycled.
Contact Emily at info@sandowncentre.com to join the community gardens.
Our incubator farm program has a new name: The Farmpreneur Program is now The Regenerative Farmer Program! This year we are excited to welcome 5 new farm businesses to the program as 2 left, for a total of 9 farm businesses and 12 farmers at Sandown this year!
Among these new farmers are Brooke Williams who has joined Farm or Die, Ella and Ashton of Tiny Flwrs, Lena and Dan of Regrowth Food & Fibre, Cory and Jax of Testbed Farm, and Ehssan and Hadeel.
On Saturday May 6th, we will be having a plant sale and open house. Join us on site from 10 -3!
There will be an array of plant starts available from herbs and perennials to annual vegetables and flowers.
Come to Sandown and support the farmers, meet the team, and see the site. Hot beverages and snacks will be available.
We are grateful for the amazing work of Jen Rashleigh (one of Sandown's founders and the previous Community Engagement Manager) and Steve Duck (Sandown's Business Operations Manager). These two have been integral to Sandown's growth and success since the beginning and we wish them all the best with their future endeavours! Please welcome Stephanie Jacobs as the new Business Operations Manager, and Emily Harris as the new Community Engagement Manager.
Keep an eye out for our Spring newsletter coming soon!
Stay tuned for more updates! Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture
www.sandowncentre.com
info@sandowncentre.com
The Sandown Centre is located on the traditional lands of the SENĆOŦEN speaking W̱SĺḴEM (Tseycum) peoples of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. We respectfully acknowledge how colonialism disrupted ties between Indigenous peoples' and their traditional food ways and seek to reconcile this through thoughtful, collaborative, and inclusive land care. We are grateful for the Tseycum peoples’ careful stewardship of these lands and waters since time immemorial and to this day.
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