With a $7,500 BC Hydro ReGreening grant, two organizations in Chase have partnered up to plant the seeds of a idea with a proposed FireSmart garden in the village.
At the April 22 council meeting, Ashley Sweetnam from Chase Family Services and Tracey Simpson with Communities in Bloom presented a proposal to create a FireSmart demonstration garden in the curling rink parking lot.
Sweetnam, who outlined their plan, said at this time they鈥檙e asking for land us permission as the chosen location is a spot in the curling club parking lot, which is Village owned, and eventually financial assistance of $5,950 to cover additional costs. She added that the garden will be part of a larger, ongoing project they've already been collaborating on.
鈥淥ne of the stipulations of the grant is that a part of it needs to incorporate a new project," Sweetnam explained. "Which was perfect for us because this meant that we could finally implement the final stage of what we鈥檝e been working on for the last three years 鈥� a series of garden projects around the Village of Chase that will be essentially a self-guided walking tour.鈥�
The other locations that would be included in that are the pollinator gardens at the library, museum, Interior Savings and the Food Forest in Wilson Park, with the circuit is named the Ne7茅lye Walking Tour, which means Here Now in Secw茅pemcts脥n.
The idea for the BC Hydro FireSmart Garden is in response to recent events involving climate change and wildfires.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been talking about how a lot of people understand FireSmarting as getting rid of all plant life and completely mowing all their lawns," Sweetnam said.
鈥淪o our proposal is a FireSmart demonstration garden of how people can be FireSmart while at the same time creating beauty, at the same time enhancing our community on multiple levels.鈥�
The garden would be located in the curling club parking lot and feature native fire resistant- and drought-tolerant plants, while also supporting community safety, education and beauty. Simpson created a landscape plan for the grant application that has since been refined a bit.
鈥淲e鈥檙e learning a lot about what it means to have a space built on FireSmart principles,鈥� Sweetnam said of the process. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a really beautiful space, it鈥檚 just going to enhance that space massively.鈥�
The request will be further addressed at a future meeting with additional details provided and an official request for financial assistance, with council already expressing its support.
鈥淚 really appreciate you saying, and countering the argument, that when FireSmart coordinator Michael Anderson comes to your property, he is not saying get rid of all your vegetation, he is looking at selective planting," Coun. Dan Stevens said. "So I really appreciate that.鈥�
