Atlantic School of Theology to create peaceful garden

A stretch of Halifax's Northwest Armwaterfront has been overgrown for almost a decade, but this summerit will be transformed into a garden bythe Atlantic School of Theology.

That will be nicefor students, and the school'snew longterm tenant, Hospice Halifax, saidLindaMoxsom-Skinner,advancementdirector ofAtlantic School of Theology.

"I can imagine people coming down here when it's been a very difficult time, and just being able to gather themselves, and to figure out how to go the next step," she said.

It's endless, the joy that we're going to be able to experience.- Linda Moxsom-Skinner

Still a lot of work to do

Moxsom-Skinneris the "brains" behind the project, and Rowan JoshDansieis the "hands," according toDansie.Dansieis the landscape technician for the garden, thanks to a six-week government grant provided to the school.

"I made a place that I would like to spend time at," Dansie saidduring a break fromclearing the ground.

So far, he's cleared the trails for the future garden, through what was dense brush.

He's added anetwork of paths to help visitors imagine what the finished project will look like, he said, but still has a lot of work to do.

'Very rewarding'

Beneath the hot summer sun,Dansiesaid he isin good spirits.

"It's very rewarding," he said.

"I've done landscaping for some time, but I've never done something to this extent or this scale and it's nice to see people walking through and enjoying it."

Cost anywhere from $20K to 100K

Moxsom-Skinnersaid the first phase of the project this year is estimated to cost about $20,000, but the most elaborate version of the garden could cost as much as $100,000.

The school will depend on a combination of support from government and other sponsors, she said.

"I think it's endless, the joy that we're going to be able to experience in this space,"Moxsom-Skinner said.

"There's a number of different areas, almost like different rooms that you can go into, and still be at peace with yourself and all that nature has to offer."