Write a Letter Today!
- Help Our Re-Zoning Efforts
- Help us Help More Formerly Homeless
- Help us Farm the Full 193 Acres of Woodwynn!
Woodwynn is the setting for our Homefulness Therapeutic Community, designed to helping over 70% of our participants maintain sobriety and self-reliance.
We will soon be asking for new, site specific zoning for Woodwynn Farms.
What we’re asking for and why
Specialized, farm based zoning would allow us to:
- Build permanent housing for 96* apprentices (formerly homeless) and staff
- Farm 193 acres by organic, non-industrial farming methods
- Create value added products and sell them in a retail space on the farm
- Have a restaurant on site open to the public
- Host events such as weddings and other community events (non-smoking, no alcohol)
- Create a workshop and sell what our apprentices make
- Create an equestrian centre
- Greenhouses and landscaping
Our accomplishments to date are significant considering the size of the farm and the state it was in when purchased in June 2009. Almost 100% of the work completed to date has been accomplished through the diligent hard work of our apprentices, volunteers and staff. We are proud of the strides we have made to date and extremely motivated by the community support. We will be including building plans and digital images on our website so folks can see our plans and have a better idea of what non-industrialized farming looks like.
*Why is 96 the number for our therapeutic farm community and how will we house them?
The socio-dynamic ideal number for a successful therapeutic community has proven to be 96 people. More than 96 tends to be unwieldy and less than is too small a dynamic to create a feeling of community. We intend to build a two story building made up of dorm style accomodation for 60, the rest being split into semi-private and private rooms. We will create a building that looks similar to the existing buildings so it blends well with the farm and keeps any change in footprint to a minimum.
Why should I write a letter and what should I say?
There are not many people who can say their lives have not been touched in some way by alcoholism, drug abuse or mental illness. We know in our hearts that the therapeutic community is the best way to rehabilitate the most people with permanent, positive effects. We would like to be able to help as many people as possible, as soon as possible. A personalized letter is far more effective than a petition or a ‘chain’ letter and this project is personal. Homelessness, alcoholism, drug abuse, mental health issues – these things affect all of us. To help people out of their myriad of problems is to help more than just one. So many are affected by helping just one person, we help their family members, the policing community, the hospitals, the ambulance staff, doctors, nurses, outreach workers, their children, their friends, co workers and really perhaps there are limitless effects on improving one life that we will never even be aware of.
We would like people to tell in their own words why they support our program and that they would be in favour of site-specific re-zoning. If we can show, in writing, Central Saanich Mayor and Council the tremendous community support we have it will be a great help to further our cause. We would appreciate being copied on email letters so we can track our support. Emails may be copied to info@woodwynnfarms.org
Not keen on writing a letter? We have many other ways you can help. Come on over to the farm office Monday to Friday (10-4) and sign our petition. Record your own video blog and have it posted to our blog site (website?).
Contacting Central Saanich Mayor and Council:
There are four ways to submit your correspondence to Mayor and Council:
1. Drop it off at the Municipal Hall – 1903 Mount Newton Cross Road;
2. Mail: please ensure that your letter is addressed to:
“Mayor and Council”
The District of Central Saanich
1903 Mount Newton Cross Road
Saanichton , BC V8M 2A9
3. Fax to the Municipal Hall – (250) 652-0135
4. E-mail the Municipal Hall through their website at www.centralsaanich.ca, go to contacts, then “email” municipal hall.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding our letter campaign or our intentions at Woodwynn Farms, please email us at info@woodwynnfarms.org and we will be happy to answer all of your questions.
When you work at the farm and are privy to see the change in people, it is an inspiration beyond words and a reminder of why we are all here – to make a difference.
We thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Richard Leblanc
Your Letter Of Support For Woodwynn Farms