A few of Rebecca van der Zalm鈥檚 friends have come into her family鈥檚 nursery in the past few weeks, anxious to make up 鈥渕ini-me鈥� scarecrows resembling their boyfriends or husbands.
It鈥檚 a new take on banishing the boys to the doghouse, she said. These men 鈥� or their look-a-likes, at least 鈥� are being erected in the gardens, instead. In some cases, it's seen as a form of punishment and 鈥� in at least one case 鈥� it was a tribute to a gardener鈥� 鈥測ou decide,鈥� said van der Zalm.
She chuckled at who her nursery鈥檚 Build-A-Crow project for charity is attracting, and she鈥檚 elated with how many people have sought out the chance to build scarecrows and help out local organizations.
With more than two weeks until Halloween, they鈥檝e already seen more scarecrows 鈥渂irth鈥� at the nursery this year, than during the inaugural Build-A-Crow run in fall 2015.
With more than 200 already 鈥渂orn鈥� at the nursery, she鈥檚 optimistic they could double last year鈥檚 fundraising total of $2,000.
She鈥檚 had daycares and kids' groups, such as Brownies, come in.
She鈥檚 watched as many grandparents have brought in their grandkids to share in the building process.
And van der Zalm has even fielded inquiries about hosting a birthday party centred around building scarecrows.
All great ideas, she said, noting it helps three local organizations: the Versatiles entertainment troupe, L鈥橝rche Canada (a day program and housing for people with developmental challenges), and the Semiahmoo Animal League.
Build-A-Crow costs a minimum $10 donation (that is earmarked for any one of, or all of the three charities). With that donation, builders are provided with a wooden frame, straw, and burlap head, as well as some expert scarecrow building advice, tools, and equipment necessary.
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Guests, however, must bring their own old clothes and decorating accessories.
For ideas, guests can also view more than 60 scarecrows 鈥� of all different sizes, shapes, and designs 鈥� that are set up throughout the Port Kells garden centre. These are scarecrows made up last month by 鈥� or for 鈥� local businesses.
There鈥檚 a lacrosse player, Pete the Dragon, a dog, cat, pig, Loch Ness monster, a Ninja Turtle, a buddha, a golf player, and a Hawaiian girl, to name a few of this year鈥檚 scarecrows. That initiative was also part of the fundraising effort, van der Zalm explained.
The sponsored scarecrows will remain on display until Oct. 31, and the Build-A-Crow station will be available through until Halloween, as well, van der Zalm said. Art鈥檚 Nursery is located at 8940 192nd St.
van der Zalm said she鈥檚 鈥渟hocked鈥� and 鈥渋mpressed鈥� by the creativity of many young crow builders and how their able to create some incredible scarecrows using things like staples for eyes and pipe cleaner for hair.
鈥淭hese kids are pretty creative,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd, I鈥檝e gotta tell ya, it鈥檚 been really fun to watch.鈥�
