Day of Caring a Blooming Success
A backyard makeover wish became reality for members of a Community Living Kawartha Lakes residence last week. Business leaders and citizens - numbering twenty-two strong - joined together to supply the lumber, hardware, garden accessories, plants and labour required to build an accessible garden for the residents of the home to enjoy.
Staff members of the RBC Royal Bank came armed with shovels, hammers, plants and energy to help Kailob Quibell and Jacob Cenzura complete the new garden. Their effort constituted this year's United Way Day of Caring event.
The goal of the day was to transform the backyard into a serene place to relax, explore and watch nature up close. The new garden features tactile experiences along with culinary delights for the residents. The day's additions include both traditional and raised gardens. New wind chimes echo in the partly-treed yard near a bench inviting residents to sit and ponder the beauty around them.
The raised planter, designed by Gary Quibell (owner of a custom cabinet business) can be reached by residents who have mobility challenges. An assortment of herbs, vegetables and flowers are planted in a design that allows access residents from a standing or sitting position. Gardening tools were donated to give the residents a start at learning new garden skills.
Attracting birds into the backyard with a bird bath, bird feeders and houses will lend to some easy entertainment and many opportunities to learn. The new bench and chairs provide a great vantage point to observe the butterflies while visiting with family and friends.
Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director expressed her gratitude at the event.
"This is an exciting day for the folks who live here. When you think this has been a dream of the residents, their families and staff for some time and now it is really here for them, it is really moving," said Ms. Barton Dyke.
"Thank you to all twenty-two community leaders who believe in community spirit and played a role in this project. A very special thank you goes to Kailob and to Jacob for sharing so much of their time and knowledge. Eventually, we hope to see a Day of Caring spread across the city in different towns and villages on the same day."
Check out our photos of the day's events by clicking on the images below.
Building the raised garden - click group to view larger images
Planting other flower beds - click group to view larger images
At the end of a day's work - click group to view larger images
Day of Caring - Behind the scenes
Although our goal became a reality on June 3rd, this project took many months of hard work and planning. Here is a sneak peak behind the scenes.
January 2008
- We kicked off by brainstorming with Jacob Cenzura Landscaping Design and Construction.
- We sent out letters requesting donations for the garden.
- We researched Serenity Gardens.
February
- We took visited residence and took pictures of the site.
- We received donations from Brent Walmsley, Stephen Woodcock, Garth Whitford, Brian Evans and Robert Nagel.
March
- Project partners step forward:
- Mike from Rona Building Centre-garden supplies/lumber.
- Jack Magahay, who donated homemade bird houses.
April
- Brandie from TSC contacted us and donated a bench.
- Dale from Alf Curtis donated lumber.
- Joe from Canadian Tire contributed wind chimes.
- Gary Quibell, owner of Custom Cabinet, drafted blue prints for the garden design.
May
- Dan from Home Hardware donated assorted hardware and materials.
- Home Hardware gave us a discount on a bird bath.
- RBC signed on as our labour force; five employees turned out to help.
- The Pita Pantry, Mr. Sub and Kawartha Bakery also made donations to our effort.
- The local media came out to cover this special event, including the Lindsay Post, Kawartha Lakes This Week and CHEX TV.
Thank you to Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director, United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes, for providing the information for this story and some of the day's photos. Thank you to Merla McGill of Community Living Kawartha Lakes for providing photos of the day as well.
