Dave Darbey was doing his regular volunteer stint at The Salvation Army, where he taught guitar, when he noticed the “ugly, old yard” out back.
Darbey, who was a landscaper before he began a 25-year career as a teacher, had a thought: “That could be made into a beautiful space.”
Almost one year later, the area has been transformed into a big garden filled with vivid blooms, lush greenery, a trickling waterfall, a circulating pond, and more.
The Healing Garden, as it has been dubbed, celebrated its official opening Saturday, June 13 at the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope in Abbotsford. Nobody was happier than the visionary behind it all.
Darbey said the whole idea was to enrich the lives of residents and clients. “It (the garden) is a real contrast to some of the nasty things that come into their lives,” he said.
Darbey began volunteering at the Sally Ann about 18 months ago. He had retired from teaching and wanted to do something to benefit others.
He connected with The Salvation Army and taught art classes and gave guitar lessons. His garden project idea was given instant approval. Darbey began with just a shovel and pick, and began clearing an area to build a pond. Word got around. Somebody offered to donate a liner and pump for the pond.
Judy Williams, a volunteer who cared for the garden beds at the front of the Centre of Hope, soon had a shovel in her hand, too. Williams once worked at a nursery, and she had lots of ideas about how to beautify the area even more.
She and Darbey decided to approach local nurseries for donations. Their first stop was to Brenda Falk of Tanglebank Nurseries. She loved the idea. “There’s definitely healing in a garden. It’s non-judgmental. It’s peaceful and beautiful and quiet,” she said.
Falk donated dozens of plants, and so did four other nurseries. Falk also came to the site and contributed some landscaping ideas.
Residents and clients also got involved, helping to clear the land, do the planting, and care for the garden.
One of these was Gary Shpak, who calls himself the “watering guy.”
“I think it’s fabulous,” he said of the project. “People get involved – that’s a good thing . . . It’s a good outlet.”
Darbey estimates the garden now includes more than 500 individual plants, such as bergenias, clematis, sunflowers and cerastiums. Jolts of purple, blue, yellow and orange are scattered throughout, with plenty of greenery between.
Some are planted in unique containers – for example, a pair of brown rubber boots and an old faded blue suitcase. The project also features a greenhouse, an herb garden, and several benches that Darbey and Williams constructed from fir. One area is devoted to garden plots. Each plot is managed by two clients, and they grow items such as beets, strawberries, tomatoes and brussels sprouts that are used in The Salvation Army’s kitchen.
The Healing Garden was recently honoured with the Home Depot Community Building Award. The $4,000 prize will be used to expand the project, including arbours and gazebos.
It is hoped that ongoing donations and volunteer support will keep the project flourishing.
“A garden is never complete,” Darbey said.
by Vikki Hopes
Reprinted with permission by Abbotsford News