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Sarah Linde drops off mustard greens and takes an oregano plant — part of her new daily routine at the Little Free Plant Stand.
“I absolutely love it,” said Linde. “I think there should be way more of them actually.”
Jo Neufeld first planted the idea seed a few months back.
“It has been proven that gardening helps with individuals’ mental well-being,” said Neufeld, who based the concept on the very popular little free libraries.
“Jo came to me in February and said ‘hey there’s this Colwood grant we should apply for, we can do these Little Free Plant Stands’, said Brittany Miller, co-creator of the Little Free Plant Stand.
The grant was approved, then Jo’s handyman husband Harv helped with construction, and now their project has blossomed into the latest addition to Colwood’s Herm Williams Park on Kelly Rd.
“The big goal of the plant stand is to just give someone the gift of gardening,” said Miller, an experienced gardener.
“It’s a productive activity you can do during lockdown,” said Joslyn McDonald, another co-creator. “Sharing plants and stuff is awesome because now I don’t have to buy so many seeds, saves my wallet a lot.”
Beyond sharing her gardening passion with the public, Neufeld also believes in the healing effects of getting her hands dirty.
“Before COVID hit, I went through a depression and gardening helped me recover and be out there,” said Neufeld. “It’s like the best medicine.”
The group also provides their own tips and tricks via their social media, aiming to encourage new gardeners to give it a shot with some assistance.
“It’s not as hard as people make it out to be and if we can just give them a little head start into gardening then maybe it’ll flourish and it’ll be a hobby for them,” said Miller.
Since opening last month, the plant stand has been busier than expected. However, the green thumb trio believes this could be the start of a new normal in greater Victoria.
“I think it’ll be many years of this and it’ll only grow in popularity, especially here,” said McDonald.
Kevin Charach
