Do you know your neighbours? Maria Sanchez grows closer to her community with every gardening season.

In 2014 Sanchez saw her community was disconnected.

"Nowadays everyone just kind of goes to work and after a busy day they go home and they hide in their houses. There is not that interaction with people anymore," says Sanchez.

As she was getting a chance to meet her neighbours, Sanchez began to see a need in her community: "I was writing programs with a local homeless shelter here in Winnipeg and that brought to my attention the needs for any community in Winnipeg to give back and bring awareness to the fact that any day someone can be susceptible to that."

Sanchez and her family then expanded their front yard enterprise to a wishing well and a community garden. In the raised beds Sanchez grows tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, herbs, baby carrots, and more vegetables that tend to be priced high in grocery stores. Sanchez hopes to alleviate that pressure by offering free vegetables for families who can't afford it.

With the garden along the sidewalk, the already busy street has seen more traffic, but Sanchez says it has only brought blessings: "A lot of good feedback ... the concept as well of keeping our neighbourhood safe.

The smallest thing anyone can do can make a whole change in someones life - or the world for that matter.

"I think that is really important, no matter what area you are from in Winnipeg. I think being able to get to know your neighbour - making that connection and bringing forth that thought process that no matter who you are you are welcomed into our space and you feel safe here as well." 

Sanchez has also added the Gilmore Garden Sharing Station to her housefront emporium. The station, where she places her harvested vegetables alongside other food donations from community members, is for people to come and take what they need if harvesting the vegetables themselves is too difficult.

While there are no plans to expand passed - as the current projects have filled her entire property - Sanchez has no plans to slow down: "I find the value is building a sense of community.

"With this, I have noticed we are able to be out more. People come by and it sparks up a conversation. Next thing you know, you know your neighbours from blocks down. It's just that building the sense of community, sharing in the kindness, and just continuing to build that small hometown feel and safety as well."

You never know who you're going to come across that's going to need that positive approach or that comfort that they're seeking from other people.