Community Garden
Situated at the front of the Fernwood Neighbourhood House the Community Garden is a permaculture-inspired space that grows herbs, vegetables, and fruit for use in on-site programs and for public use. The garden also includes pollinator beds, a tea garden, soup garden, perennial vegetables, and native plants—supporting biodiversity, learning, and community care.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the City of Victoria through the My Great Neighbourhood Grant, Community Garden Volunteer Coordinator Grant, and Micro Grant.
Community Orchard
Located beside the Fernwood Neighbourhood House, the Community Orchard is a shared, public space where neighbours come together to care for the land and grow food in visible, community-held places. Planted in 2013, the orchard is part of the City of Victoria’s Community Orchard Pilot Project and reflects a place-based approach to local food systems rooted in shared stewardship.
The orchard includes 25 fruit trees, with a mix of apple, pear, plum, and fig varieties. Trees were selected for their heritage value, flavour, disease resistance, and ability to adapt to a changing climate—supporting long-term ecological resilience.
As with all perennial food systems, orchards grow slowly. While the trees mature, the space offers opportunities for learning, gathering, and connection to the land.
Community Involvement
We host seasonal work parties and learning opportunities related to orchard care, including pruning, grafting, and food processing. Community members are invited to participate and learn alongside one another.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Roger Colwill Fund for the Environment, Real Estate Foundation of BC, and the Vining Street Block Party, as well as Acorn & Branch Gardening and Landscaping for their support in building the orchard’s rock walls.
Native Plant Meadow
Our commitment as a Neighbourhood House is to offer the community green spaces and opportunities to engage with Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, including Indigenous food systems. As part of our commons garden spaces, we steward a Camas meadow. This Garry Oak ecosystem features over 30 endangered native plant species and offers a walking path that community members can use to interact with the meadow and identify native plant species.
This meadow was developed in consultation with Satin Flower Nurseries, Dr. Deondra Smiles, Dr. Nancy Shackelford, and the Aunty Collective.
