posted on June 26, 2009 by Kate Fagan Taylor, Executive Director
Last night Richard LeBlanc was our featured guest at Passionate Lives and shared about the exciting next steps for the Woodwyn Farm Project. More than 100 guests joined in the dinner and dialogue to learn more about the development of this therapeutic community, which will help to provide a real solution - "a hand up, not a handout" for hundreds of homeless people in Victoria. Queenswood is proud to be a supporter of this project because it addresses several of the most pressing social issues we face today-- the ecology, homelessness, and belief in citizen-led change. We're happy to be donating the net proceeds of the evening to Woodwyn Farm.
Richard shared the long-term plan for the Woodwyn Farm property in Saanich, which is now legally in the care of the Homelfullness Society. It includes many exciting therapeutic elements including a market garden, orchards, beekeeping, berry fields, horse training, the restoration of the creeks on the property, and the cultivation of traditional native camas. Caring for the land will be the focus for the community of formerly homeless men and women. Eating food that they themselves grow will be part of the physical, emotional and spiritual healing process for participants. (For more details on the proven value of this therapeutic model click here to check out an article from Monday magazine last year.) Richard reported that work and repairs on the property are moving ahead with the enthusiastic help of more than 60 volunteers at the last workparty. The final elements of the program now are being determined, including an off-site residence for the first group to live in community while working on the farm. Congratulations to Richard, the Homefulness Society Board, and all the many volunteers and supporters who are making this dream a reality by daring to, as the project's slogan says, "believe in people!"
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