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About

The Can You Dig It (CYDI) initiative tackles the challenge of social isolation through gardening.

Food production is a wonderful way to develop a sense of belonging, as neighbours work together towards a common goal. It is also a place to learn new skills and to make your contribution to the greater community. CYDI reaches out to include all neighbours, and celebrates diverse abilities and life experiences. Look for newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, seniors, youth and their neighbours in our gardens.

Along with the physical and mental benefits of gardening, CYDI also promotes:

  • Environmentally responsible land-use
  • Access to healthy food
  • Donations to local food depots and community kitchens.

The benefits included with the give back part of this initiative, are much larger than feeding people who are hungry. They also include promoting civic leadership and ensuring that the contributions of all members of the community are recognized. People who require social supports are often perceived as being on the receiving end of benefits, with their contributions invisible to others. This initiative shows how we can all make a difference and that an inclusive community, is a diverse community. In our gardens we grow food and cultivate relationships.

Our Mission

  1. To promote urban agriculture and sustainable land-use.
  2. To empower isolated individuals and expose the community to their skills and abilities.
  3. To facilitate social and economic inclusion by creating meaningful networks within the community.
  4. To contribute to the community by giving back a percentage of the yield of each garden to food depots to assist those in need.

Who We Are

Can You Dig It (CYDI) was launched in 2009 by posAbilities, a not for profit community living service provider. It was seen as a way to create opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to experience social and economic inclusion through produce gardening.  Supported individuals became involved with building and coordinating the gardens. It soon became obvious that the gardening process would also benefit other groups, like seniors or newcomers who were experiencing isolation. In 2010, MOSAIC became partner in CYDI, and in 2011, Simon Fraser Society for Community Living also joined the initiative.

Can You Dig It is made possible through the generous support of BC Social Ventures Partners, the Vancouver Foundation, all of our partners and gardeners. Together, we are making a difference in our communities and transforming the dream of inclusion into a reality.

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Our Sponsors and Community Partners

We are proud to lead an initiative that connects and empowers people from different backgrounds and abilities and to create communities where everyone belongs! Together, we are making a difference in our communities and transforming the dream of inclusion into a reality. We thank the following sponsors and community partners for their generous support:

 
BC Social Venture Partners (BCSVP) 
Vancouver Foundation 
posAbilitites 


MOSAIC   
Walmart – Evergreen Green Grants Program 


Simon Fraser Society for Community Living 


Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion 

  


Vancity Community Project Grant 


City of Vancouver 

City of Burnaby 


City of North Vancouver 


FISKARS
 Project Orange Thumb



Paraspace Landscaping Inc. 


United Family Child Care Providers Society (UFCCPS) 
BC Cancer Agency 


Vancouver Coastal Health

West Coast Seeds


Ryerson, Cloverdale and Bethany-Newton United Churches

 

Mainland Sawmills 
  

 

 Eco-Soil Organic Compost

 West Creek Farms

 

Fraser Richmond Soil & Fibre

       BC WoodWorks

  

 

 

 

 

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