Reflection on my volunteering with Climate Action Niagara

What I did:

 As I went on the second day of the two day project, September 13, 2011, all of the weeding and ground work had already been finished. Therefore; the other volunteer, Caitlin, and I dug holes for the plants and made the garden more visually pleasing. This was hard work as you could only dig so deep and then you would hit gravel. Volunteering at Goodwill Stokes Community Village was hard work as I was always on my feet and moving around the whole time. Jane Hanlon put the pots of flowers where she wanted them to be planted so all I had to do was dig the hole and put the pant in it. I found that digging was the hardest because the ground was not in the best condition. Jane explained to me that the contractors did not always respect the gardens and threw old bricks and rubble into it. With the stones and bricks covered in soil you never knew when you were going to hit one. I found myself struggling to get a hole deep enough to fit the plant in as I kept hitting a stony bottom, which I could not get through. I found it easier to raise the soil around the plant so all the roots were covered, it was the only way I could get the plant to stay in place. I could tell that no one had taken care of that garden for a long time as the soil was packed down and seemed to need caring for. As we were short on hands and time it seemed as if the garden would not get the care it needed that day as there was much to do.  However, part way through the day one a senior resident came out to help as he saw that we needed help. So he would fill the wheelbarrow with mulch and dump it into the garden and we would move it around to give the gardens a finished look. Jane explained that there were going to be pictures on September 14, 2011 so the front of the building would need to look its best.  However, when I left there was still some mulching that needed to be done but the building did look a lot better.

What I have been asking myself:

I wanted to know more about the project and how it would benefit the residences. After asking, I found out that the Goodwill Stokes building used to be a stokes seeds factory until it was sold to goodwill for a fairly cheap price. Then it was renovated and now it houses about 36 seniors; also in another part of the building they help people with disabilities. In the second part of the building they hold meetings and do activities, such as canning and soon they will be doing a cooking class. This gardening project is for the people who live there as well as the people who visit; it will give the building a finished look and make it more welcoming and approachable. However, this is not just a gardening project that ends after the two days, this project will last two years and many changes will be made, such as a place will be built for the tenants to go and sit outside. As the neighbourhood does not give them many places to go; a garden will be built in the back with pathways that will accommodate wheelchairs, picnic tables, and benches. This will give the seniors a place to go outside of the building where they can sit, talk and do as they please.  The coordinator of this project was the woman who helped us, Jane Hanlon. She studied horticulture at Brock and started the largest climate action organization in Niagara. In the first six months of her starting the organization it already had over 250 members, which continues to grow.  Jane helped me learn that if you are dedicated to something that you can accomplish almost anything. I found learning this from her was important because it allowed me to reflect on what I want to do, become a special needs teacher. People constantly tell me that it is a hard field to get into and that it is hard to get a job, but Jane made me believe that if I want it bad enough that it will happen. She started an organization that has many members; as well as, she started the project that we were helping out with.  While I was working I got to talk to Jane a bit about why she chose to start this organization and project that is hard work and time consuming. She explained to me that she wants to make a difference and give back to the community, which is why she started this project and organization; she wants to help out other people and also give people like me a chance to help with something as amazing as this project. Although, two years is quite a while she seems determined to make a difference and change the lives of those who live there. Jane is giving the residences at Goodwill Stokes Community Village a nicer place to live as well as an escape from the building where they can enjoy the nice weather, pretty gardens, and company of other residences.  

What I learned:

I have learned that a little hard work and dedication can go a long way. Jane Hanlon was able to start this project on her own, making many people’s lives easier and better. I learned how hard this project is and how hard it was to garden in this area.

I learned this when I started digging and talking to Jane Hanlon. By digging I realized how horrible the ground is and how neglected the gardens were. I got to learn more about Jane Hanlon from talking to her and asking questions about the project.

This learning matters because I got to see firsthand how one person can make a difference. It was a good way to learn about Climate Action Niagara and how it works and what they do.

In light of this learning, I may choose to help out next spring so I am able to see the end product. Also I now know more about the community and the people living in it.