InFocus Magazine is written and designed to showcase people who not only live in the Comox Valley but also contribute to our community in an inspiring and unique way.
Last summer, one of our regular feature writers, Terri Perrin, was asked to write about Helena Hartwood, Hartwood Garden Designs. (InFocus, Backyard Bounty, August/September 2009.) In learning about the work that Hartwood does with what she calls “edible landscaping”, Perrin also was told of and wrote about a local non-profit group called LUSH Valley Food Action Society. LUSH—an acronym for Let Us Share the Harvest—works with Island property owners to plant and harvest vegetables and fruit crops, then share the bounty with local food banks.
Perrin was so inspired by LUSH Valley’s role in our community that she spent much of the past winter thinking about how she could do something special for this organization. In addition to being a freelance writer, Perrin is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner. As she began thinking about planning a Feng Shui gardening workshop, LUSH Valley came to mind.
“I booked Ocean Resort for May 15 for a day-long Zen in Your Garden workshop,” explains Perrin. “I planned to address Feng Shui for the garden but, since I have only been living on Vancouver Island for about a year, needed an expert to talk about plants. I asked Helena Hartwood to give a lecture on edible landscaping. After all, if your garden is going to look and feel good, it may as well taste good, too!”
Perrin, whose company is called Fine Art of Intention, decided she needed another speaker to talk about ponds and water features but she was going to have to do some research to find someone. Talk about the power of intention! Within an hour, InFocus sent her an email and asked her to write about David Bossom of Island Waterscape & Design. He was thrilled to be featured in this issue of InFocus and to be asked to speak at this event.
“My next call was to LUSH Valley,” adds Perrin. “I told them that I would like their blessing in running the Zen in Your Garden workshop as a fundraiser. No strings attached! Just let me organize and run the event and I will donate back as much as possible to LUSH. Needless to say, they were thrilled with the prospect!”
With two other speakers donating their time, Perrin called Ocean Resort to ask if they would donate the meeting space. (They did.) She asked their chef, Carol Kopp, if she would be willing to prepare a lunch for a crowd of 70 and do a 30-minute talk of the benefits of raw food. (She will.)
Now, she’s asking you to support LUSH Valley by purchasing a ticket to the Zen in Your Garden workshop. Tickets are $74.99 each (GST included). This includes the full workshop, a delicious lunch and an optional labyrinth and/or ocean walk at the end of the day. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited to 70 people.
If you operate a business and would like to be an event sponsor, your support is also welcome. You could, for example, help with the cost of the lunch or printed materials. Or you can donate $50 to LUSH and supply product samples or advertising flyers to be put in the participants’ “loot bags”. (Tax receipts will be issued.)
“The motto of Fine Art of Intention Feng Shui is: ‘If you do not open your hands and heart to help yourself… you cannot give, nor can you receive’,” says Perrin. “Organizing this event for LUSH is my way of giving back.”
For more information or to register call 250.218.4952 or visit:
For information about the Lush Valley Food Action Society, go to: