Beauty and bountiful nutrition is blooming around Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频榯ent city91裸聊视频�.

Debbie, a resident of the popular encampment along the rail-trail, is the brains behind the blossoming community garden. She broke ground after being gifted a couple of seedlings. Since then, the garden has grown plentifully.

Garth, her partner, is the 91裸聊视频渕uscle91裸聊视频� behind the project and Kismet, her puppy, provides snuggles.

91裸聊视频淲hen I first mentioned it to bylaw, they kind of rolled their eyes at me,91裸聊视频� said Debbie. 91裸聊视频淣ow that they91裸聊视频檝e seen it, they91裸聊视频檙e more on board.91裸聊视频�

Debbie hopes that by 91裸聊视频渂eautifying91裸聊视频� the encampment, people will start to see the humanity of those experiencing homelessness.

91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 see us as people,91裸聊视频� said Debbie.

She said that her community can hear the degrading remarks pedestrians make as they pass by, and it hurts their feelings.

91裸聊视频淢aybe if we make it prettier along here, it would give people something to be proud of91裸聊视频� and people would see us as human.91裸聊视频�

She said that there has been great community involvement in the project and that residents have been enjoying the flowers and produce from the garden.

During the interview at 91裸聊视频榯ent city91裸聊视频� residents of the encampment came up to Debbie, asking for direction on harvesting vegetables and to ask permission to add some plants of their own.

She said that having a productive project to work on, like a garden, gives people a purpose, which is beneficial for mental health.

91裸聊视频淲hen you don91裸聊视频檛 have things to do, it can become destructive.91裸聊视频�

Debbie hopes to grow even more produce next year. This year, the garden boasts a harvest of zucchini, kale, tomatoes, strawberries and cauliflower, to name a few.

She wants to give the residents increased access to fresh and healthy foods, like vegetables, since the donated food that residents of the encampment rely on is typically processed and non-perishable.

Debbie is also growing an assortment of flowers, planted around the vegetables. Garth is typically in charge of watering the plants, an arduous task in the hot summers with only a single water fountain to use.

Next spring, she would like to hold a plant swap where locals could exchange cuttings of prolific plants to expand their garden variety.

After being gifted an armful of fresh-picked produce, Capital News reports that the zucchinis and tomatoes are delicious.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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