News

By Sophie Webb

A little bit of everything was growing at Dal AC this summer.

When Dianna MacGillivary asked whether Cultiv8 GROW had ever hosted an event of its own, she was surprised to learn it had not. That simple question sparked an idea: why not create one?

As Cultiv8 GROW's Communications and Sales Coordinator, Dianna took the idea and started to build on it. On August 27th, she organized Community Farm Day, bringing Dal AC and surrounding community together for an afternoon of food, activities, fresh produce and connection.

For Dianna, increasing awareness was about more than sales. She wanted to give people a reason to visit campus and learn more about the work happening there.

鈥淢ore awareness will not only increase profits, but also educate our community on what we do,鈥� she said.

Community Farm Day gave visitors a chance to discover what Cultiv8 GROW has to offer while enjoying a summer afternoon on campus. The event featured rock painting, a colouring contest, custom herb and flower bouquet building, a barbecue and fresh vegetables for sale.

The day also brought Cultiv8 GROW together with Steps on Arthur, an organization that supports people with intellectual disabilities. Dianna has a longstanding connection with the special needs community and said partnering with Steps on Arthur was an easy decision.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have a bad day when you鈥檙e with them!鈥� she said.

The event drew a good crowd and brought in $900 in sales, giving Cultiv8 GROW a very successful first event of its own. There are already talks of future plans and collaborations; Steps on Arthur is interested in participating again next year, opening the door for Community Farm Day to become an annual event.

For now, one successful afternoon has given Cultiv8 GROW a new way to welcome the community to campus.