You have heard of Festival of Trees at the Empress, well now there is the inaugural Festival of Scarecrows at HCP thanks to the creativity and enthusiasm of staff person Linda Petite.  Linda brings her experience from similar festivals in her home province of Nova Scotia. Here in Victoria there are about 20 scarecrows on display in HCP’s Lower Field until Nov. 1 (or they are destroyed by the weather!).

Video – Children’s Capoeira perform in the Field of Scarecrows:

The Children’s Harvest Festival, held on Saturday, September 24th at HCP’s Lower Field kicked off the Field of Scarecrows with 17 interactive stations, music and food. It was a huge success with over 500 people in attendance. “The weather was perfect and the atmosphere and fun-factor scored 10 out of 10″ said co-organizer Kari Frazer.

Emphasizing growing, harvesting and eating, activities included seed collecting and vegetable tasting in the Farm Garden, apple tasting, scarecrow making, wetland walk, musical pollination and drawing what goes on in your soil.

We would like to thank participating organizations: 4Cats Art Studio, BC Hydro, Black Press, Compost Education Centre, CRD, Fastrac Mail Service, JackFM, Lifecycles Project, Lunchalicious, Marigold Nursery, Master Gardeners Association, Mitchell’s Farm, Music Conservancy, New Horizons Program, Oases Oganization Advocating Sanctuary for Endangered Species, Ocean Radio, PISE, Peninsula Co-op, RE/MAX, Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Times Colonist, Wayward School, Wild Arts.