Mental health-focused Gardengate program ramping up for spring in Brocklehurst

KAMLOOPS– As spring approaches, volunteers at Gardengate are getting their hands dirty preparing for their annual spring plant sale and sowing the seeds for summer harvests.

Kenny Kirkham is one of the many volunteers working at the Interior Health-funded mini farm in Brocklehurst.

“I suffer from anxiety and stuff and ADHD, and in the beginning, I was nervous about it and I had a little bit of an anxiety,” Kirkham told CFJC News. “But with working with the plants and seeing stuff grow and live and come to fruition and come to market with the vegetables and stuff, it took away that anxiety and it gave me a sense of purpose.”

The mental health-based horticulture program focuses on participant healing while providing food security to the local community.

“Providing people with purpose and structure, some physical activity being outside and there’s the social aspect of it and just learning and learning how to learn,” said Erica McCue, Gardengate activity coordinator. “The benefits of it are as diverse as the people that come to the program”

Tessa Luison is a practicum student who chose Gardengate as her placement after seeing the impact the program has.

“Working one-on-one with somebody and actually giving them that space and providing that safety and building rapport with them is something that I’ve definitely accomplished over my time here,” she said.

According to McCue, the 2.8-acre property produces about 30,000 pounds of food a year.

“Most of that is donated back to the community, to the food bank, or food centre and other community food supports,” McCue said. “And then we use a bunch in our kitchen, as well, to teach cooking and preserving and other other food-based skills.”

Gardengate’s annual plant sale will take place on May 11 and 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Gardengate Greenhouse (915 Southill St., Kamloops).