A place for those affected by mental illness to grow, both figuratively and literally, has dug up some support for its garden.
The Farm Friends program received an Aquaponics System installed by Vortex Aquaponics.
Farm Friends is a gardening program that teaches families and individuals affected by mental illness and addictions, all about organic gardening. The program operates out of the Mental Illness Family Support Centre, where the Aquaponics system was installed with the support from Vortex Aquaponics, VantageOne Credit Union and AJ’s Pets.
“This is fantastic! It’s a wonderful way to engage the participants of Farm Friends through the winter, and hopefully it will encourage them to come up to MIFSC to access the incredible support services, ” said Tanya Lipscomb, Farm Friends co-ordinator.
Farm Friends operates at the Patchwork Farms community garden at Okanagan College. Weekly sessions with small groups of four to six participants aims to become a place where families and individuals feel supported and connected to each other and the larger community of Patchwork Farms.
“The Farm Friends program provides a safe, relaxed atmosphere for participants to come and develop skills, build relationships, and enjoy all the benefits that outdoor gardening has to offer,” said Lipscomb.