Conservation Science
Looking back at 2014, we celebrate 8 interns, 7 species at risk studied, 3000 m2 streamside habitat restored, partnering with 3 neighbors in the watershed, 1670 native trees and shrubs planted, 80m of fencing to keep horses out of the creek. We hope you’ll join us for our new projects on the Restoration Saturdays scheduled in the coming year!
Environmental Education
We’ve held our annual spring and summer day-camps, as well as welcomed school groups from kindergarten level to grade 11 biology students to Brooksdale this fall. Two classes of kindergartners from a local school will come seven times over the school year for 3 hours of outdoor exploration! They will have a unique experience of getting to know this place more than most visitors do, and developing a relationship with the animals, people and life in this watershed.
Events
This year we hosted our second annual Mother’s Day Tea, our first River Festival, our first Summer Pig Roast, and our annual Harvest Celebration highlighting our 10th season of CSA — all of which are becoming favorite community events with high attendance rates!
Farms to Families
2014 saw the launch of our new school garden initiatives in North Surrey, to address food security issues in our rapidly growing city center. Our first project was completed at L.A. Matheson Secondary school, where 20 raised beds have replaced an empty patch of grass, to provide the school community with fresh vegetables . We’re excited to start a new partnership with Tamanawis Secondary School in the new year!
We are also continuing our partnership with the Surrey School District and hosting the Girls in Action group, which is designed to provide opportunities for young girls to build healthy friendships and cultivate life skills. The students have the chance to work in the garden, join in fun songs, learn about farm life, and cook with fresh vegetables, all while deepening their relationships to the environment and each other.
Sustainable Agriculture
The A Rocha Community Shared Agriculture project has just wrapped up it’s 10th season of growing good food for families around the region, as well as volunteers and interns at Brooksdale. Happy Birthday to the CSA! It was a great 10th year – we fed over 300 people a week from June to November.
Consider joining the CSA for the 11th season. You’ll receive sustainably grown vegetables that are more fresh and flavorful than anything you have experienced! Registration for our 2015 season is set to open within a few days. Visit www.arocha.ca/csa for all the details or email Paul at paul.neufeld@arocha.ca.
