A year has made all the difference for a Burnaby resident and her garden.
Last fall, the NOW shared Wendy Boyd’s story.
Boyd had started a small garden at Millers Way, a 10-bedroom duplex that provides long-term, 24/7 care to adults with mental health issues. Since her early 20s, Boyd has suffered from depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
She found gardening to be very therapeutic and a pastime that allowed her some refuge from her demons.
The 60-year-old also took pride in being able to make meals for her roommates using the produce she had grown.
After hearing Boyd’s story, Fraser Health provided funding for an additional five garden beds to be built. Landscape Centre in Coquitlam also donated a truck load of soil.
“The garden’s much better, and we have a larger garden with different things,” Boyd said, pointing to the tomatoes, kale, dill, sage, carrots, cabbage, peas, cucumbers, zucchini, beets and Swiss chard. “It’s wonderful and it tastes so good. I find it very pleasant and I love eating fresh vegetables.”
Michelle Goodwin, Boyd’s recreation therapist, said each resident at Millers Way has a care plan.
“It’s their hopes and dreams. It’s their goals. It’s their reasons they do what they do here.”
In Boyd’s case, Goodwin said gardening was a perfect fit.
“That’s kind of her personality. She’s like, ‘Yeah, I’d like to do that.’ That’s Wendy’s nature. She would take ownership of things.”
When she’s gardening, Boyd’s medication is reduced, Goodwin added. That’s because she’s not as anxious and the voices she usually hears are kept at bay.
“For someone who doesn’t deal with that, it’s just a constant voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough, you’re stupid, you’re second. When something can replace that, that’s a win,” said Goodwin.
