I am a volunteer with Greenthumbs, a program of the Sunnybrook Volunteer Assoc-iation (SVA). It operates out of the greenhouse located between Vaughan Estates and McLean House on the Sunnybrook and Health Sciences Centre campus.

It was not until I read an obituary for Elizabeth McVicar in Viewpoint that I knew of her extensive involvement with Canadian Pensioners Concerned, and as I write this article I am remembering her role with Greenthumbs and also as a volunteer in the recovery area of the Day Surgery Unit.

The Greenthumbs program began in May, 1988 from the vision of the founding members, Jack Poynton and Dudley Wilcox. They were distressed to see the hospital groundsmen pitching tulip bulbs into the compost, and were able to save the bulbs and sell them to the hospital community. This first sale raised $1300 for the SVA and many sales have followed - currently the group raises between $20,000 and $30,000 a year for the SVA which is used to enrich patient care. By the 1990/1991 season per-mission had been given to renovate the greenhouse and adjoining root cellar. Funding for this was obtained from various sources and, to this day, the whole program is self-supporting thanks to generous donations for updates and maintenance.

Greenthumbs now numbers approximately 50 volunteers. We have followed the tradition of recycling and reusing whenever we can. We have built our own compost system and compost all our garden waste. We still save discarded bulbs and plants from the grounds and local parks. We reuse flower pots (clean please) and baskets - donations can be left behind the greenhouse at any time. We grow bulbs donated at the end of the outdoor planting season using our root cellar.

In addition to what we grow we now purchase plants wholesale for weekly sales in three locations in the hospital on Wednesdays from Thanks-giving till mid-May. For special occasions, including Thanks-giving, Christmas, Valentine's, Easter and Mothers' Day we have a wonderful team of skilled members who make beautiful floral baskets. In February we team up with the Toronto Botanical Gardens at their annual Get a Jump on Spring event to sell our spring flowers in very special arrangements. A fun day - plan to attend next year.

After mid-May our sales are conducted directly from the greenhouse. We sell perennials, some from members gardens and others nurtured in our own garden besides the greenhouse, and bedding plants grown from seed and plug flats. In recent years we have had donations of beautiful day lilies. We grow heirloom tomatoes, other vegetables and herbs. We make up planters of flowers and herbs for the deck and balcony. If you wish to bring your planters in we can arrange to plant them for you. The greenhouse is open weekdays on a regular basis between 10 a.m. and 12 noon with extended hours in the busy season. If you are making a special journey or wish to place an order it is best to call ahead 416-480-6100 ext. 2444.

While we have our capacity of members at this time there are many other volunteer opportunities at Sunnybrook. For more information you can contact Volunteer Resources at 416-480-4129 or visit the hospital's website www.sunnybrook.ca. With a little research you can probably find other interesting gardening volunteer opportunities in your local community. Schools often use volunteers to help the children grow gardens, many institutions such as local nursing homes, hospices, and children's homes will welcome your assistance and ideas.

Good growing and have a wonderful summer.