A new gardening project will soon take root in the RM of Rockwood.
Turning Leaf Support Services requested conditional use approval for rural retreat use at a 14.4-acre property on Road 81N. The intent is to create a 15-by-six-metre communal garden program as well as a 25-by-15-metre dedicated space for Indigenous services and ceremonies.
The program aims to provide participants with skills and knowledge about food production and horticulture. Participants would get hands-on experience in planting, nurturing and harvesting food. They would also be encouraged to keep part of the harvest for themselves. Any remaining produce would be sold at a farmer’s market at Turning Leaf’s Winnipeg-based headquarters, thereby providing some income for participants.
At the same time, the program aims to connect participants to First Nations traditions, cultures and languages. Vulnerable people of Indigenous descent would have the opportunity to connect more deeply with their heritage, which they might not have been exposed to due to factors such as poverty, addiction, historical repression, mental illness or disability. Cultural practices might include smudging and fires in a purpose-built and code-adherent fire pit.
Temporary storage sheds would be used to store gardening tools and cultural supplies. A portable toilet would be located on the property and serviced as needed.
Hours of operation would generally take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and access to the property would be strictly controlled and limited to those with appointments during scheduled times. It’s unlikely that more than 30 people would be at the property at any given time and more likely that it would be smaller numbers.
Small groups will travel by mini bus co-ordinated by Turning Leaf Support Services, so traffic volumes will be low and parking will be available at the site.
Karl Oswald, clinical case manager for Turning Leaf, owns the property and lives there with his family. The nearby area consists of cultivated farmland, and the nearest home is 300 metres away with vegetation between the sites.
“Turning Leaf Support Services provides support to adults with intellectual disabilities, whatever their background is. Anyone over the age of 18 who qualifies for our services, we provide supports to. There are a variety of backgrounds to the people that we serve,” he explained about the organization.
“We might provide support to a person who’s got a very strong family background. They live a typical lifestyle and they just are someone diagnosed with an intellectual disability. You might look at them and not notice any difference between them and somebody else you might pass on the street. Other people that we support face greater challenges, so it’s very varied.”
A crowd of community members packed the council chambers for a public hearing on Nov. 8. Many expressed concerns about issues such as property values, safety, traffic and lack of communication from the organization.
“I don’t really want it out in our neck of the woods,” said Ryan Holod, who spoke in opposition.
Several people questioned why the organization chose that particular property as opposed to on Indigenous lands or “out in the bog where there’s nobody around for miles.”
Oswald explained that he lives on the property and works for the organization, which would like to offer the program to participants. It would be closer than travelling to many Indigenous communities.
“An elder has been employed by Turning Leaf Support Services, who would be involved in the development of the program pertaining to Indigenous services,” Oswald added.
Other people expressed concern that the organization might want to extend the hours or expand the scope of the project.
“These aren’t your stereotypical Manitobans who have obeyed 100 per cent of the laws,” said attendee Trevor Farmer.
“I have children who walk and run the roads in that area. What guarantee will we have that no one leaves the premises? What guarantees that there’s never going to be a teepee set up and overnight housing?”
Reeve Wes Taplin explained that everything would be outlined in the development agreement and any changes would require council’s approval.
Attendee Allan Webb said he likes the idea of gardening but requested some additional information about the project.
“I think it’s great for people to produce their own food and develop self-esteem and self-reliance. I’m sure many of Karl’s clients need that support,” he said.
“I’m fully in favour of reconciliation and Aboriginal ceremonies to strengthen Aboriginal culture and self-esteem.”
Webb also expressed concern about the undefined nature of “Indigenous services” and sought further explanation.
Oswald explained the Indigenous services would be secondary to the gardening initiative. These services might include smudging and having a sacred fire.
“Speaking as the resident of the property and the person who owns it, I have no intention to ever go beyond a very minimal and non-permanent setup in terms of what’s going to be happening there,” Oswald said.
“Other types of things that have been mentioned such as housing or treatment programs, that is not my intent to develop such a thing on my property. I have no desire to do so. These type of ceremonies would be very limited to something that could occur within an eight-hour period or less and could leave no trace on the property other than the potential fire pit that we would place in one location.”
Nearby resident Larry Brown urged council to reject the proposal. Along with his wife Carrol, his main concern hinges on the issue of drug addiction.
“Addicted people associate with other addicted people,” he said. “When the word gets out about the ceremonies and events, what uninvited people will also be coming around our area and will it be safe to drive on our roads?”
Oswald explained that Turning Leaf would undertake safety planning and risk assessment prior to having anyone enter the program.
“Anybody who was attending the property would be accompanied by support staff who are highly trained and educated in the area of crisis response,” he said.
“I have no concerns about the safety of the community in relation to the individuals who might be attending the property.”
Danelle Guenther, program manager of Community Resource Network, sent a letter of support for the initiative.
“Having worked within community mobilization for the past 14 years, I can attest to the difficulty clientele face in accessing cultural programming in our region,” she said.
“Access to cultural programming is a pivotal part of support planning for Indigenous youth, adults and families and can lead to increased positive outcomes.”
Manitoba Agriculture noted that agricultural activities should remain as the dominant use within the agriculture general zone.
South Interlake Planning District did not have any significant concerns with the proposed development subject to conditions. Council conditionally approved the request.
