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Our Community: Don’t let fruit go to waste — pick it!

Up to 18,000 kilograms of fruit this summer will feed the needy and not rot on the ground or get thrown into the compost, thanks to the Fruit Tree Project, a program that sees helpful hands picking fruit to be redistributed among 40 social agencies.
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BCIT student and Fruit Tree Project volunteer Jenelle Yonkman does a little quality control in the field.

Up to 18,000 kilograms of fruit this summer will feed the needy and not rot on the ground or get thrown into the compost, thanks to the Fruit Tree Project, a program that sees helpful hands picking fruit to be redistributed among 40 social agencies.

The program, in its 18th year, sees volunteers harvesting fruit from the backyards of up to 130 homeowners over the next four months. The project is an initiative of LifeCycles, a non-profit organization that promotes food security and urban sustainability.

The fruit is shared four ways: among homeowners, volunteers, food banks (and community organizations) and back to the project itself.

Some of the fruit will serve as ingredients for some LifeCycles workshops held at the Shelbourne Community Kitchen that teach participants how to can and preserve fruit, and make jam and chutneys.

“LifeCycles has contributed so much,” said Sheila Avery, co-ordinator of Food Security at Saanich Neighbourhood Place. “They have connected community members to contribute vegetables and fruits to our many families.”

Apples and plums make up the bulk of the fruit, with pears, figs and quince also abundant in the area.

“While we collect throughout the region, we have found Gordon Head, Oak Bay and the Gorge Burnside area are hotbeds when it comes to nice old trees,” said Jenny McCartney, LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project co-ordinator.

The reason, she said, was because the land was used for fruit orchards before they were eventually subdivided into single-family housing.

This year the group is also harvesting peppers, lettuce and other vegetables at a commercial farm, in collaboration with the Mustard Seed, the largest food bank on Vancouver Island. The fresh produce helps feed those in need.

Homeowners who might be interested in participating are urged to continue watering their trees at least once a week during this dry weather. Failure to do so could result in the fruit dropping prematurely. Fruit tree owners and volunteers can join the project at lifecyclesproject.ca/ initiatives/fruit_tree.

 

For many, it’s not as easy as riding a bike

Children with special needs learned how to ride a bicycle on their own at the iCan Shine bike camp, which took place at the Pearkes Recreation Centre last week.

One of the participants was Trinity Geisler, an eight-year-old with a chromosome disorder that, among other things, affects her strength, co-ordination and balance.

More than anything this summer, she wanted to learn how to ride a bike, without training wheels or being pulled by her mother. She wanted to feel the wind on her face, feel the freedom and exhilaration and — most importantly — to keep up with her younger brother.

“We tried to teach her a few years ago on a typical bike with training wheels,” said Carol Geisler, her mother. “At the time, it was very hard for her to co-ordinate the different parts of riding a bike. It would take all her focus, for example, to get the pedals moving forward, and so she wouldn’t be able to steer at the same time. She would get very frustrated.”

At camp, participants start with a cylindrical roller in place of the back wheel, progressing to a series of more and more tapered cone-shaped rollers as the child gets used to balancing and moving. Two volunteers serve as spotters for each rider.

“Our bodies have an inherent ability to maintain balance, and these bikes trigger this without the children even being aware,” said Sharon Stangeland, camp co-director and Island Health physiotherapist. “They don’t have to process commands — they just do what their body naturally does.”

The camp is put on by iCan Shine, a national charitable non-profit organization that boasts 80 per cent of their participants are able to ride a bicycle independently by the end of the course. The local camp is funded by the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, in partnership with Island Health. More than 200 local children have taken part in the five-day program since 2008. For more information, go to icanshine.org or childrenshealthvi.org.

 

Donation helps put women in the workplace 

The Wear2Start Society usually accepts donations of clothing and money to help unemployed and economically disadvantaged women get a leg up in the job market. But last month, the non-profit also accepted a load of lumber.

The University Heights Home Depot generously gave the organization enough lumber to transform a storage room into a workable, giant closet for clothing used to give clients a ready-for-work makeover.

Wear2Start boosts the confidence women by providing them with appropriate work attire and a makeover before job interviews, as well as a small wardrobe to get them through to their first paycheques.

The non-profit group, started in 2001, typically relies on donations of gently used clothing, shoes and accessories suitable for the workplace.

For details, go to the website wear2start.com.

 

Pipe-organ repairman honoured for dedication 

A lifelong love of pipe organs was recognized last week when the Victoria Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists awarded their 2015 National Council Distinguished Service Award to Grant Smalley.

Smalley, with the help of his wife, Bev, has owned and operated Grant Smalley Pipe Organs for more than 30 years.

His services include repairs and maintenance of approximately 50 organs in the Victoria area, throughout Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland. Without Smalley’s devotion, many of these instruments undoubtedly might have become unplayable and ultimately fall silent, said the college in a statement.

Born in Sidney, Smalley developed a passion for the pipe organ early in his life, working for Hugo Spilker, a local Victoria organ-builder, eventually purchasing the business in 1984.

Over the years, he has developed skills to deal with all aspect of organ building, from cabinetry to the construction of chests, winding systems, actions, pipe work, voicing and tuning. He can build new instruments, rebuild and expanding existing instruments and restore historic tracker organs.

Smalley is also a much-valued choral singer in the community. For more information, go to rcco-victoria.org.

 

ReStore’s new location to seek bargain-hunters 

Habitat for Humanity has begun to accept donations at a second ReStore location in Victoria. When it opens for business in August, bargain hunters can expect to get deals on new and gently-used building supplies and household goods.

The new store, located at the corner of Blanshard and Cloverdale, addresses customers who had complained it was a long drive to the West Shore to purchase new and gently used building supply merchandise.

“The new location boasts a 740-square-metre showroom that offers furniture, building supplies, appliances and so much more including; flooring, sinks, cabinets, lighting, tools, doors, windows, paint and hardware — all at a fraction of retail cost,” said Jim Walker, Habitat Victoria’s ReStore manager. “Shoppers can also find antiques and a wide variety of vintage finds.”

Proceeds from the sale of goods supports Habitat’s affordable housing mission, which includes a four-unit townhouse complex currently under construction at Cedar Hill Cross Road with a scheduled completion in the fall.

The store is accepting donations throughout July, with a full store opening in early August.

People can drop off new and gently used building supplies and household goods from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday throughout the month at 3311 Oak St. (facing the corner of Blanshard Street and Cloverdale Avenue). People donating heavier items or in bulk can call 250-386-7867 to have their donations picked up Monday through Friday.

 

Help the Mustard Seed send needy kids to school

The first day of school may be months away, but the Mustard Seed is already looking ahead to their Fairstart campaign, which ensures that every child starts the school year with the necessary supplies and allowing them to escape the social stigmas that often start young.

The downtown food bank is hoping to distribute roughly 700 kits to families with children returning to school. These back to school kits will be distributed in August and include all essential stationery, new clothes, shoes and a backpack.

The kits are valued at approximately $50, but thanks to the support of sponsors, a donation of $25 ensures a child receives all they will need for their first day of class.

People are also asked to consider donating a kit in honour of a teacher. Call or donate online and mention the teacher’s name, school and who the kit is given by, and the Mustard Seed will send them a thank-you card.

For details, go to the website mustardseed.ca/donate or call 250-953-1581.

 

St. Luke’s cemetery could use your help 

Restore the dignity of some of Victoria’s early pioneers, learn some history and meet new friends at a community cleanup of St. Luke’s cemetery on Saturday.

The historic cemetery is the final resting place for more than 1,000 church parishioners, individuals and families who originally settled in what is now Cedar Hill, Lake Hill and Gordon Head. The first recorded interment was in 1886, although there likely were earlier unrecorded burials.

Volunteers are needed with a monthly cleanup of the plots over the summer. People can help by cleaning headstones, weeding or cleaning gravesites. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves, pruners, clippers, hoes and scrapers. Water is available for cleaning monumental markers, but please bring your own bucket and scrub brush.

Refreshments will be served.

The event runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. Another cleanup, at the same time of the day, will be held on Aug. 15. For details, go to stlukesvictoria.ca or call 250-477-6741.

 

Motorcycle fundraiser will help women in need 

Up to 150 women motorcycle riders from on Vancouver Island are expected to take part in the Canadian Women’s Ride Day, held in the Cowichan Valley next Sunday.

This is the third year of the event, with money raised from registration and other events surrounding the ride will be donated to the Cowichan Woman Against Violence Society and Women in Need, Victoria. Last year, the fundraiser raised $5,000 for charity and the goal this year is to attract more women riders and raise even more money.

Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon will attend and speak at the celebrations following the ride, along with local, municipal dignitaries and First Nations leaders. The B.C. Nurses Union will be in attendance with their health-promotion bus.

Internationally acclaimed Canadian blues recording artist David Gogo will give a free performance at celebrations following the ride.

Registration is $25 (includes a t-shirt and lunch). Registrations starts at 9 a.m., with the ride starting at 10:30 a.m. from the Cobble Hill Country Grocer, 33-1400 Cowichan Bay Rd. Cobble Hill. The public is welcome to join in the afternoon’s festivities. For more information, go to canadianwomensrideday.com or Facebook.