Can You Dig It!

As you know, I have profiled numerous charities and non-profit initiatives on my blog. One of those amazing non-profits I profiled before is posAbilities, a fantastic not-for-profit community living service provider. Their current project, Can You Dig It! sounds like an amazing exercise in community building, so I thought I’d also profile it, not only because of the organization behind it but also because of its goal: encouraging community building through gardening as a social activity that encourages sustainability.

The Can You Dig It (CYDI) initiative tackles the challenge of social isolation through gardening.

Food production is a wonderful way to develop a sense of belonging, as neighbours work together towards a common goal. It is also a place to learn new skills and to make your contribution to the greater community. CYDI reaches out to include all neighbours, and celebrates diverse abilities and life experiences. Look for newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, seniors, youth and their neighbours in our gardens.

Along with the physical and mental benefits of gardening, CYDI also promotes:

– Environmentally responsible land-use
– Access to healthy food
– Donations to local food depots and community kitchens.

The benefits included with the give back part of this initiative, are much larger than feeding people who are hungry. They also include promoting civic leadership and ensuring that the contributions of all members of the community are recognized. People who require social supports are often perceived as being on the receiving end of benefits, with their contributions invisible to others. This initiative shows how we can all make a difference and that an inclusive community, is a diverse community. In our gardens we grow food and cultivate relationships.

You can find Can You Dig It on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter. I love the work that Can You Dig It is doing and I am hoping you will be able to participate in some of their activities. More information about Can You Dig It below.

Can You Dig It (CYDI) was launched in 2009 by posAbilities, a not for profit community living service provider. It was seen as a way to create opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to experience social and economic inclusion through produce gardening. Supported individuals became involved with building and coordinating the gardens. It soon became obvious that the gardening process would also benefit other groups, like seniors or newcomers who were experiencing isolation. In 2010, MOSAIC became partner in CYDI, and in 2011, Simon Fraser Society for Community Living also joined the initiative.

Can You Dig It is made possible through the generous support of BC Social Ventures Partners, the Vancouver Foundation, all of our partners and gardeners. Together, we are making a difference in our communities and transforming the dream of inclusion into a reality.