Spring Ridge is Canada`s oldest public food forest and Victoria’s largest public permaculture garden or community multi-layer food forest , located on a 1/2 acre city lot in Fernwood at the corner of Chambers and Gladstone. (Location Address is 1200 Gladstone Avenue. )
@insideawareness Summer Volunteer Focus, ’15
This summer Renee Lindstrom of @insideawareness spent time with Linda Chan, Co-ordinator of Spring Ridge Commons, in conversation about a focus for enhancing the community garden experience. Through our discussions we began to differentiate philosophy and practicality. Both important influences upon each other, yet, which comes first? We decided to focus upon practicality and bring a change from the ground up!
After hosting a clearing ceremony to voice the qualities community members would like to enhance in the garden, we followed this up with creating some new pathways. The first pathway we started with was one that had become a shortcut through the gardens. Our purpose was to change the super highway experience this pathway had become. Instead we created meandering garden pathways by adding curves to redirect walkers. This would slow people down and take them on another pathway through the garden and offer them choices. In the process of changing this pathway an unexpected feature became a welcome focal point. A plaque!
In creating these pathways the focus of attention was on:
- the pathway as the experience
- rock edging to define the pathway
Our next pathway challenge will be the front entrance pathways! The challenge is the designated front entrance is diminished by other entrances to the gardens! Watch for pics!
Support change – donate @ #yyj’s Spring Ridge
Read more:
5 Element Design – #yyj Spring Ridge Commons
5 Element Design – Sacred Clearing Ceremony
If you are longing for a personal consultation please inquire privately:
renee@insideawareness.com.
Renee Lindstrom offers:
Center for Inside Awareness 
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