In 1963 one volunteer's parents, Karen and Willy Rasmussen, moved to Prince George after having immigrated to Canada about a decade earlier, and bought the land she still shares with family today.
Deep roots have sown the legacy of living off the land from which Birthe Miller's family has been fed for decades.
Some might imagine it's an acreage in the country that sees the fruits (and vegetables) of her labour harvested to store in her root cellar, create offerings like jams, jellies and preserves she shares with customers at local farmers' markets, and keeps a fresh fruit supply to offer her beloved two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Finnlay.
Miller has a city-size lot right in the middle of the bowl that offers enough room to plant the rows of flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables that are her passion from March to October.
Miller has been a master gardener since 2008 and in 2010 took on the communications and marketing for the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society (DDBGS). Those duties include maintaining the website, writing the newsletter and managing membership.
Her volunteer efforts include growing hundreds of plants for several plant sales in Prince George including the garden society's sale that takes place at the university, REAPS, and the community gardens. Miller also keeps the plants in her garden that don't get sold during the sales. Miller volunteers to not only grow the plants and deliver them but to attend the sales, where she helps with sorting, labeling and selling, she said. She helps organize the volunteers at the plant sales including family members who come out to volunteer during plant sales in a show of support for Miller.
"They even take time off work to help," Miller smiled with pride for her family. "Without family support you can't do anything, can you?"
As a master gardener Miller is often sought out by avid gardeners.
"We give advice and help pick out plants with people during the sales," Miller said, who worked for the Ministry of Forests for 37 years. During the busy season Miller can be found at three different events in one weekend.
"I will get that look from people and they ask 'didn't I just see you at...?' and they're right, it can get busy," Miller laughed. "And people do sometimes ask me if I ever sleep and the answer to that is yes, I do."
The choice to grow is part of her heritage.
"It's all about family," Miller said. Her parents property in the bowl is occupied and co-owned by her son, Robyn, and his wife, Karin and son Finnlay. The house is the young family's and the garden is still Miller's baby while she lives in College Heights in a home she shares with Neil, her husband of 41 years.
"This was always a gathering place for family and friends when my parents were here," Miller said.
In the winter months Miller turns her volunteer efforts to the College Heights Community Association, which she's been involved with for 25 years, and for half that she's sat on the board either as the treasurer or a director. In 2005 Miller earned the City of Prince George Recreation & Culture Award of Merit for her efforts since the community association provides accessible sports and recreation for children and adults.
Miller has been a member of the Prince George Fibre Arts Guild, which is located at Studio 2880 on 15th Ave., for the last seven years and is the treasurer of the non-profit group.
Miller can't help but talk about the drop-in sessions offered at the Fibre Arts Guild to encourage newcomers to see what it's all about. Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the last Tuesday of every month is a workshop video night.
"I organize the setup for Studio Fair," Miller said. "I organize a lot of volunteers."
Miller helps organize the horticultural displays at the British Columbia Northern Exhibition and also is part of the judging panel for the entries at the fair.
Miller is co-chair for the Association of Northwest Weavers' Guilds 2019 conference to be held at the Civic Centre.
As a fibre artist Miller spins, felts, knits, and quilts.
"It's just part of me," Miller said. And she's not the only garden society member who is a member of the Fibre Arts Guild. There are at least seven other like-minded people.
Volunteering is a big part of Miller's life and there's a simple explanation for that.
"You give a lot of yourself but you sure get a lot back," Miller said.
Flip through The Citizen's Volunteer City series, featuring stand-out volunteers in Prince George:
