How a vegetable garden is helping the disadvantaged in downtown St. John's

Charles Noseworthy has a smile that's hard to forget, and it may shine brightest whenhe looks at a row of peas big ones that he's helped grow.

"They're huge, look! Look at the leaves!"Noseworthysays on a hot August day, as he picks out weeds from avegetable garden.

"It is relaxing. It's giving me a sense of peace from my every day thing."

The Gathering Place garden sits behind thestreet-level outreach building in downtown St. John's.

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Colourful vegetables in neat rows of wooden boxes are astark contrast to what's happening inside throngs of people of all ages, battling mental illness, some gripped with addiction and the majority facing both.

The seeds, wooden boxes and building materials were all donated or provided at a discounted price from businesses in the community.

Guests earn minimum wage

Noseworthy, 35, is one of a small group of guests (as they're called at the Gathering Place) who regularly tend to the garden, picking out weeds and watering plants.

There is no schedule. No hard commitment. Organizers say it just wouldn't work that way.

The enterprise program allows people like Noseworthyto earn minimum wagefrom creating something themselves. But the program's aim is to give much more than that.

I would be in a bad spot ...Getting into trouble.- Charles Noseworthy

"It feels really good. It gives me a sense of confidence that my stuff is growing and all the awesome work I've done in the past few months," Noseworthy said.

"Basically if I get myown spot, I'll know how to garden."

Noseworthy beams with pride as he talks about the vegetables being used in the kitchen to feed other guests.

He can't quite find the words when asked where he'd be without the Gathering Place, a reliable centre where he gets a meal, meets friends, and uses the public computers.

"I would be in a bad spot ...Getting into trouble."

Mike O'Dea, the centre's social enterprise co-ordinator, started the garden.

He'slooked on as guests grew from dismissing the garden, to watching it, to working on it.

"They are living with challenges far behind what we can even comprehend," O'Dea said.

Seeing something through from beginning to end then reaping the rewardis not something that happens often.

"When you see people coming from the street or substandard housing with a smile ...it's enlightening."

There are 1,400 registered guests at the Gathering Place. Between 250 and 270 meals are served six days a week.

'Complexity of their lives'

But when the time comes for Noseworthy to make some cash and show off the fruits of his labour at a fall sale, he's nowhere to be found.

His absenceis the sad reality of the lives he and others live, said director Joanne Thompson.

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"It's important to understand that when people come to the Gathering Place, it really is in many cases the end of the line in terms of availability of services, programs, where you are in your life," she said.

"The abilityto show up at a particular timeis not realistic. It speaks to the complexity of their lives."

That's why the garden works . they choosethe time based on the reality of their lives, which are often fraught with instability.

His work, however, did not go unnoticed and Noseworthy will get proceeds from the sale of the vegetables a small amount that means so much.