Most years the Garden Club organizes a visit to a garden of note in the surrounding area. This year we will be visiting Innisfree Farm just South of Courtenay. About five years ago Chancal Cabrera and her husband bought land in Royston and founded Innisfree Farms as a multi-purpose agricultural centre, growing and marketing produce and medicinal plants, running courses, hosting the Comox Valley Seed Savers, and providing a home base for Gardens Without Borders.
The garden at Innisfree is designed specifically for therapeutic purposes.  There are raised beds which are accessible to people with impaired mobility.  For people with vision limitations, there are many tactile and scented plants and a water feature so they can hear where they are to help stay oriented.  Also, the garden is contained, which provides a feeling of safety and also ensures that clients can’t wander off across the fields.
Both Chancal, a trained herbalist, and her husband were speakers at the Garden club in the fall of 2010. Innisfree Farm is run on organic lines and is a busy place. We have arranged a visit for June 21st leaving here on the 10am ferry and taking a packed lunch with us. We will be having a tour of the farm and I am sure there will be a lot to learn. Closer to the time we will arrange car pooling, etc. There will be a $10 fee for the garden visit. All Garden club members and hence all Community Garden members are welcome to attend.