Image: L'Arche Saint John photo.
A new green space is a hit at the home of L’Arche Saint John on the city’s west side.
The Garden Accessibility Initiative came about with a goal to redesign the outdoor space by adding vegetables and flowers, a greenhouse, a rainwater collection system, a level pathway, and an accessible gathering area around the fire pit.
Zoel Breau, executive director of L’Arche Saint John, said people wanted to help by donating time and materials, including eager board members with green thumbs.
“To our surprise, everybody was involved. We decided to have a kind of garden party to prepare the garden. We were 20 people — some neighbours, parents of the people with disabilities, board members and friends,” Breau said.
The Garden Accessibility Initiative at L’Arche in Saint John has allowed family, neighbours and core members the chance to gather outside safely. (Image by Tamara Steele)
Due to the limitations caused by the pandemic, Breau said having the garden was perfect because they could invite their friends outside.
“This is a perfect community where it brings people that would never be together in other ways., but we’re together with one little purpose together: to create beauty,” Breau said.
The pandemic is considered “doubly devastating” for people with disabilities living in care.
The L’Arche Garden Accessibility Initiative came about because of an idea from Katie McTiernan and Sarah Bell who are both avid gardeners.
“It created a space where we could be together,” Breau said.
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