Come Help Us build a Permaculture Food Forest in Burnaby!

What better Therapy than to nurture nature, grow flowers and your own ORGANIC FOOD and make new friends? 

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We welcome your creativity whether it is making a Mandala Garden, Growing Mushrooms or Crafting Gardening Ideas. 

 

Please bring some tools since we may not have everything you need.

 

WORK TO BE DONE: Weeding, Planting, Constructing Garden Beds, Landscaping 

 

DONATIONS WELCOME: We are in need of both Donations/Transport of Top Soil and Extra Large Planters. River Stones and Driftwood are also most welcome.

 

WHAT TO BRING: Trowel, Gloves, Hat, Smile 

 

ENJOY a Delicious Smoothie with us at the end of day and Join in the Laughter...

Check Out What We're Growing!

 

VEGGIES: potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, squash, pumpkin, cucumber, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, collard greens, spinach, leeks, celery, chicory, green beans, brussels sprouts, snow peas, bok choi, lettuce, swiss chard, chicory, beets, radish, rhubarb, zucchini, peppers, turnips, onions, garlic

 

HERBS: chives, marjoram, mint, sage, parsley, oregano, basil, rosemary, bay, dill, cilantro, thyme, tarragon, chervil 

 

FLOWERS: geranium, begonia, pansy, marigold, petunia, asters, daisy varieties, periwinkle, dahlia, gladiola, gerber, calibrachoa, snapdragon, mums, poppies, calendula, carnation, digitalis, cornflower, cyclamen and more...

 

We are a proud member of the BC Council of Garden Clubs

What is Permaculture?

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Humanity is more than ever threatened by its own actions; we hear a lot about the need to minimize footprints and to reduce our impact. But what if our footprints were beneficial? What if we could meet human needs while increasing the health and well-being of our planet? This is the premise behind Permaculture: a design process based on the replication of patterns found in nature.

WATCH 4 min trailer on Documentary exploring "conscience inhabitance through permaculture" and the tools for and promise of meeting human needs while also caring for and regenerating ecosystem health. 

 

About Our Project

 

This is a Vancouver Ecovillage project which is a 100% volunteer-driven organization with no salaried or compensated staff.

 

MISSION: We are building a Permaculture Food Forest where neighbors and communities across Greater Vancouver are invited to participate.

 

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this project is to bring people across all socio-economic, cultural, educational and intergenerational levels together in the creation of a common goal which we hope will provide a viable system of support and create lasting friendships.

 

DESCRIPTION: We have several gardening projects across Vancouver and Burnaby with a Garden Nursery in White Rock. 80% of our garden spaces are allocated to non-GMO organic food growth ie. tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, cabbage, artichokes, green beans, kale, lettuce, herbs.

 

There are no individual plots as in most community gardens. The focus is on collective gardening where vegetables are planted in sections and everyone shares in the harvest.

 

Each gardening session is also a guided hands-on Permaculture workshop where we teach newcomers and visitors alike about planting and transplanting, using tools efficiently, constructing garden beds from recycled wood, landscaping, watering, composting, recycling, etc. Participants choose which tasks they do base on preference and level of ability.

 

In 2015 our Permaculture Garden Nursery has provided non-GMO vegetable plants and flowering plants to:

 

• Mole Hill Community Gardens, Bute/Pendrell St.

• Nelson Park Community Gardens, Bute/Comox St.

• St. Paul's Hospital Gardens, Burrard St.

• Pendrellis Senior Home Community Garden, 1254 Pendrell St.

• Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club Gardens

• Dundee Court Co-operative Community Garden

• Sensory Garden, BC Provincial School for the Deaf/South Slope Elementary School

• Learning Garden, Burnaby South Secondary School 

• Learning Garden, Byrne Creek Secondary School  

• Wild Flowers Bee Learning Garden, Burnaby

 

We also promote GARDENING THERAPY which often creates new friendships - the greatest result achieved by this project. We work together with Community Inclusion Groups such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, Spectrum Society and posAbilities to help empower their members through skill development, physical coordination, integrated teamwork and socialization.

 

Gardening is Therapy but What does it Mean?

 

Our Permaculture Gardening Project in Burnaby aims to grow more than an Urban Food Forest. It is well known that Garden Therapy benefits the mind, has effects of stress relief, improved mood and emotional well being. We provide the opportunity for renewed mental and physical health and social connection through cooperation and teamwork.