A Wilder Way to Work

18 April 2025Lily A, Hope ‘26

My Service Day was full of strawberry replanting, greenhouse rehabilitation and tractor driving – all while accompanied by Seamus, a huge white dog – two energetic boys and their kind parents, Robin and Caleb. We were also assisted by former BEAT Sponsors Ms Laura Richardson and Ms Murryn Miller.

Our bus dropped us off at Robin and Caleb’s farm, Wilder Market Garden, where we were greeted by Benji, aged 7, racing Mr Ganley on lawn tractors. As we followed them down the gravel road, we met Robin and Caleb, who kindly invited us onto their farm and offered us strawberry plants to take home.

We worked on weeding and readying their greenhouse for their summer planting. We helped transform the farm from a handful-too-big-for-two-working-parents to a hospitable and ready place for new plants to grow.

At the end of our morning, Robin and Caleb gave us a tour of their home, which Caleb, also a carpenter and pilot, and Robin a SLP, built themselves. The home was designed to reduce energy consumption and foster plant growth – the family takes advantage of a peach tree, a kiwi plant, bamboo, and other beautiful deciduous greenery to provide shade, and hence reduce energy use, in the summertime.

We learned that their energy-efficient property uses half that of a regular neighbourhood home: “I never thought a whole farm could take up less than 50% of the energy my suburban house uses,” observed Ruby S, Hope ‘25.

“I’ve been bringing Environmental Advocacy, BEAT, and Service Day volunteers here for the past three years,” added Mr Ganley. “The students do excellent work, have a great time, and learn a lot about how they could also grow some of their own food.”

Thanks to Robin & Caleb for a very productive, sun-filled, and cheerful Saturday morning.

Lily A, Hope ‘26

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