As no-brainers go, the official title for an under-construction, public building in Richmond was right up there with how Steveston got its name.
And on Wednesday, as the cement was being delivered at The Sharing Farm’s new city-owned facility in Terra Nova off Westminster Highway, James Gates smiled as he gazed across the safety fencing at workers laying the foundations of “Mary’s Barn.”
Mary’s Barn — named in honour of The Sharing Farm founder Mary Gazetas, who passed away in 2012 — is scheduled to be completed sometime in May.
Gazetas was the inspiration behind and a founding member of the non-profit Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project, the original name of The Sharing Farm Society.
She recognized the need for healthy fresh food at the Richmond Food Bank and worked to secure a small plot of City of Richmond land in Terra Nova to grow vegetables for the bank.
“It’s very fitting,” said Gates, The Sharing Farm’s executive director, adding that it wasn’t straight forward getting the building named after Gazetas, given the city’s policy over the naming of facilities after people.
“It really couldn’t be any other name.”
Like any working farm, Mary’s Barn is key to the operations, with equipment storage, vegetable washing and packing, cold storage and space to hang the farm’s signature crop — garlic.
“Mary’s Barn is a vital asset and building that will help us grow and deliver more fresh, sustainably grown produce for low-income families in Richmond,” added Gates.
“The (farm) donates up to 70 per cent of all food grown to the Richmond Food Bank and community meals in the city.
“In 2015, over 14,000 pounds of food was donated to the local community.”
Mary’s Barn was only possible, said Gates, with the support of the City of Richmond.
“(This) is a community barn, supported by several community-minded companies in Richmond including Rona, Kin’s Farm Market and Lafarge, as well as many contributions from friends of the farm from Richmond and Vancouver,” added Gates.
When the three and a half-acre Terra Nova Rural Park was created, Gazetas was invited to bring her team from the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project to Terra Nova to establish The Sharing Farm.
As a result of her initiative and leadership, The Sharing Farm has donated thousands of pounds of fresh organic vegetables for low-income families in Richmond.
That vision has continued since her death four years ago.
Gazetas had believed that gardens are all about people and community building.
She had built a big community of people around her vision and inspired many to give back and volunteer for neighbours in need in Richmond.
