In July 2022 we explored Colony Farm Park in Coquitlam. I have always been curious about that piece of land across from the old Riverview Hospital tucked in between Lougheed Hwy and the confluence of the Fraser and Coquitlam Rivers. We revisited last week.
Oh what a pleasant day. The trails surrounding the community gardens are surrounded by lush bush and tall grasses. Birds and small beasts look like they thrive here. There are occasional signs to mind the location of the turtles and invitations to digitally report to the local conservation society. It is a tranquil place.
And then there is the community garden. Quietly and lovingly tended. The only outburst from a granddad trying to stop his young grandson who had suddenly diverted from watering his own plant patch to yanking out the carrots from a neighbour’s allotment.
Gotta plan a family picnic here for sure.
I learned some things about this spectacularly pretty piece of land. It is part of a land claim of the Kwikwetlem first nation. According to the Riverview Historical Society the original “owners” of the Colony Farm and forested Riverview Hospital areas were Englishmen who sold their holdings when they learned that Port Moody would not be the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus. https://www.tricitynews.com/in-the-community/riverview-stories-farm-cultivated-riverview-2998513
The land was purchased by the government in 1904 with the purpose of using horticulture as therapy for the mentally ill. “when Colony Farm was developed, mental health authorities believed patients would benefit from “moral treatment,” which should include fresh air, healthy food, recreation and work. “ The world class farm was worked by the patients. They fed themselves, staff and much of the province. http://www.cfcg.ca/history-of-colony-farm/ What a concept.
The farm stopped operation in 1980s after complications of fire and flood and changing views about patient labour. A plan to shut down Riverview Hospital was initiated in the 1980’s with a plan to integrate people with mental illness back into communities. The jury is out about whether that plan worked well.
We moved from downtown Vancouver in 2021, away from the sirens. But even there we had the luxury of building our own garden sanctuary right in the middle of it. The last couple of years were difficult for me but I found calm and solace building and working our little garden.
“Forest Bathing” for well-being is a thing. Garden Bathing is a pretty close second.
I don’t know how the early Colony Farm workers felt about the conditions of their labour and I am curious about that. But it is fascinating to me that in the early 1900’s the Colony Farm experiment of the growing and nurturing of plants to soothe the soul is having a revival.
Directly across from where we used to live in Vancouver is now the thriving enterprise of Sole Food Street Farms.
“Sole Food trains and employs vulnerable residents from Vancouver’s inner-city who are facing complex barriers to work. Individuals are trained and given the opportunity to work with living soil, grow fresh food, develop new skills, and spend their days in an environment that supports the healing of body, mind, and soul.” https://solefoodfarms.com/
I love this concept. When we first started building our Vancouver balcony garden the landscaper that sourced and did all the heavy lifting of massive planters was eager to press into service an automatic watering system. But that never had appeal to me. The act of dawn or dusk watering was an act of love. Between me and the plants or me to myself, I am not sure.
But I do know, the nurturing of something sustainable that sustains me and nurtures me, takes the edge of some of life’s hardness, makes me kinder and more thoughtful on planet that needs that more than ever.
