Work bee produces wheelchair-accessible gardens for seniors and raised planters for the Visual Arts Centre

By Laura Stovel

The North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) and the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre (RVAC) organized a work bee on Saturday to build wheelchair accessible garden planters for local seniors’ residences and raised planters for the new RVAC garden.

Volunteers built a total of 16 planters which will be used to grow vegetables. RVAC volunteer Ken Talbot, assisted by Laura Stovel of NCES, put in long hours in the RVAC wood shop designing, cutting and preparing the wood so the planters could all be assembled in one day. Joe Kozek of Kozek’s Sawmill was extremely generous in providing modestly priced wood for the project.

The wheelchair accessible planters will go to the Cottages, Moberly Manor and possibly other seniors’ residences. Wheelchair accessible planter designs can be provided to those wishing to build their own planters at home. For more information please e-mail NCES accessible garden project coordinator Laura Stovel at lstovel0@gmail.com or phone 250-814-8971.

The RVAC gardens are part of a bigger gardening project that will see fruit and nut trees, a demonstration garden for xeriscaping (low-water landscaping) and vegetable production near the Farwell Plaza. The project is a collaboration between the North Columbia Environmental Society and the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre.

Here are some photos from this event:

(From left to right) Alan Dennis, Kelly Pettus, Bryan Thomas, Andrew Clark and Uri Naprstek assemble wheelchair accessible planters for seniors’ residences in Revelstoke, including the Cottages and Moberly Manor. Two wheelchair planters will remain in the Visual Arts Centre garden and can serve as functional models.
(From left to right) Alan Dennis, Kelly Pettus, Bryan Thomas, Andrew Clark and Uri Naprstek assemble wheelchair accessible planters for seniors’ residences in Revelstoke, including the Cottages and Moberly Manor. Two wheelchair planters will remain in the Visual Arts Centre garden and can serve as functional models.
Volunteer Alan Dennis pulls out an antique wheelbarrow as his dog, Chester, investigates the planter construction.
Volunteer Alan Dennis pulls out an antique wheelbarrow as his dog, Chester, investigates the planter construction.
Andrew Clark, recreation therapist at The Cottages, high fives with Bryan Thomas (centre) and Kelly Pettus, Manager at The Cottages (right), after they finish constructing the three planters that will go to that seniors’ residence.
Andrew Clark, recreation therapist at The Cottages, high fives with Bryan Thomas (centre) and Kelly Pettus, Manager at The Cottages (right), after they finish constructing the three planters that will go to that seniors’ residence.
Laura Stovel (left) and Jackie Pendergast demonstrate teamwork.
Laura Stovel (left) and Jackie Pendergast demonstrate teamwork.
From left to right: John Townley, Ken Talbot, Sue Davies and Mas Matsushita move a planter.
From left to right: John Townley, Ken Talbot, Sue Davies and Mas Matsushita move a planter.
Construction leader Ken Talbot (centre) admires the day’s handiwork with volunteers Mas Matsushita (far left), John Townley, Uri Naprstek and Sue Davies. Talbot volunteered long hours of work designing the planters and preparing the wood before the working bee on Saturday.
Construction leader Ken Talbot (centre) admires the day’s handiwork with volunteers Mas Matsushita (far left), John Townley, Uri Naprstek and Sue Davies. Talbot volunteered long hours of work designing the planters and preparing the wood before the working bee on Saturday.
A happy work party at the end of a long but productive day. From left to right: Garry Pendergast, Sue Davies, Laura Stovel, Ken Talbot, Uri Naprstek, Mas Matsushita and Jackie Pendergast. Volunteers missing from the photo are: Amy Clark, Alan Dennis, Kelly Pettus, Bryan Thomas and Pauline Hunt.
A happy work party at the end of a long but productive day. From left to right: Garry Pendergast, Sue Davies, Laura Stovel, Ken Talbot, Uri Naprstek, Mas Matsushita and Jackie Pendergast. Volunteers missing from the photo are: Amy Clark, Alan Dennis, Kelly Pettus, Bryan Thomas and Pauline Hunt.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR