The proposed homeless village on Valley Road in Abbotsford will undergo a facelift on Sunday, June 22.
The Valley Permaculture Guild has received a grant from Edible Trees Canada for an “edible forest” at the site, and volunteers are needed to help with the planting.
The project will include fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, herbs, other perennial plants, and native grasses and flowers.
The privately owned site, located at 33725 Valley Rd. off the Abbotsford-Mission Highway, has been proposed for a homeless village by the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society and has been dubbed the “Abby Digs.” It has yet to be approved by city council.
One acre is proposed for the village’s first phase of development. Of that space, the edible forest will take up an area about 25 feet wide by 250 feet long.
Volunteers will plant the first quarter of the food forest on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The remainder of the planting will be done in the fall.
The Valley Permaculture Guild has partnered with the Dignitarian Society.
Volunteers who wish to help with the planting are asked to bring shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, gloves, plants if they have extras to share, and food to share for lunch.
The site is located past the railroad tracks at the large white gate on the north side of Valley Road. The parking lot is inside the gate to the right.
Participants are asked to follow the red tape to the planting area and check in at the volunteer tent.
For more information, visit abbotsfordhomeless.com or “Abbotsford Dignitarian Society” on Facebook.