The Vancouver Community Gardens are a group of community gardens located around the Vancouver area. Vancouver citizens involved in Community Gardens pledge to support the farm (via money, land or labour) and in turn receive a portion of the goods produced for personal use. Vancouver has over 75 community gardens in city parks and school yards.[1]
The process of becoming a community garden involves an expression of interest application to the City of Vancouver. In order to be considered a community garden, the garden must grow crops for personal use, there must be a community development program and must increase biological diversity and educate the local community about food production.[2]
The city also supports the development of the community gardens by helping groups establish and run community gardens, help locate suitable land, make agreements to use the land, and develop environmental education programs.[2]
Once approved, the community is allowed to operate the community garden according to the guidelines set by the City of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Farms and food processing businesses can apply to receive financial funding and support (up to 85% of projects) from the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture through its Growing Forward 2 Program.[3] [4] Urban Beekeeping was included in the urban agriculture bylaw as acceptable in the year 2005.,[5] while this law changed to include backyard chickens in 2010.[5] Based on these policies, the City of Vancouver is now working toward achieving a goal in which 25% of the city's landscape is garden/farm land for edible produce.[5]
Community Gardens have been shown to enhance nutrition and physical activity and promote the role of public health in improving the quality of life.[6] The gardens have also been associated with community building and reduced crime rates. These results vary by city, however there are some important key elements that are common among successful community gardens.
The Climate of Vancouver is moderate and typically rainy; this allows for a large number of fruits and vegetables to be grown throughout the year. The following is a list of products available to various Community Gardens in Southwest British Columbia:
| Dec-Mar | Apr-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sept-Nov | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Asparagus | Artichokes | Artichokes | |
| Brussels Sprouts | Beets | Green Beans | Beets | |
| Cabbage- Red; Green | Broccoli | Beets | Broccoli | |
| Carrots | Carrots | Broccoli | Brussels Sprouts | |
| Kale | Cauliflower | Cabbage | Cabbage | |
| Leeks | Celery | Carrots | Carrots | |
| Onions | Swiss Chard | Cauliflower | Cauliflower | |
| Parsnips | Fennel | Celery | Swiss Chard | |
| Potatoes | Kale | Corn | Corn | |
| Rutabaga | Lettuce | Swiss Chard | Celery | |
| Squash | Mustard Greens | Cucumbers | Cucumbers | |
| Turnips | Onions | Fennel | Fennel | |
| Peas | Garlic | Garlic | ||
| Potatoes | Kale | Kale | ||
| Radishes | Leeks | Leeks | ||
| Rhubarb | Lettuce | Mustard Greens | ||
| Salad Greens | Mustard Greens | Lettuce | ||
| Spinach | Onions | Onions | ||
| Squash | Parsnips | Parsnips | ||
| Tomatoes | Peppers | Peppers | ||
| Turnips | Potatoes | Potatoes | ||
| Zucchini | Pumpkins | Pumpkins | ||
| Rhubarb | Radishes | Radishes | ||
| Rutabaga | Rutabaga | |||
| Salad Greens | Salad Greens | |||
| Shallots | Spinach | |||
| Spinach | Squash | |||
| Tomatoes | Tomatoes | |||
| Turnips | Turnips | |||
| Zucchini | Zucchini |
| Dec-Mar | Apr-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sept-Nov | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apples | Gooseberries | Apples | Apples | |
| Kiwis | Saskatoon berries | Apricots | Blueberries | |
| Pears | Strawberries | Blackberries | Crab apples | |
| Blueberries | Cranberries | |||
| Cherries | Grapes | |||
| Crabapples | Kiwi | |||
| Cranberries | Melons | |||
| Melons | Pears | |||
| Nectarines | Plums | |||
| Peaches | Prunes | |||
| Pears | Strawberries | |||
| Plums | ||||
| Plums | ||||
| Prunes | ||||
| Raspberries | ||||
| Rhubarb | Saskatoon Berries | |||
| Strawberries |
While, in 2010, it became legal for individuals and communities to raise backyard chickens in Vancouver, certain guidelines do need to be followed.
A number of Vancouver CSAs now involve or specifically focus on beekeeping and honey production. Organizations like Vancouver Honey Bees, Hives for Humanity and Strathcona Beekeepers focus specifically on supplying urban community gardens and community centres with the supplies needed to engage in Urban beekeeping.[9] [10] [11]
| Adanac Park | Adanac St and Boundary Rd | |
| Beaconsfield Park | East 16th Ave and Slocan St | |
| Brewers Park [approved] | East 26th Ave and Victoria Dr | |
| Cambridge Park (Wall Street) | Cambridge St and Wall St | |
| Cambie Park | 500 West 54th Ave | |
| Charleson Park | 999 Charleson | |
| China Creek North Park (Means of Production) | East 6th Ave and St Catherines St | |
| China Creek South Park | East 10th Ave and Clark Dr | |
| Cottonwood | Malkin Ave, between Chess & Raymur St | |
| Guelph Park (Brewery Creek) | 2390 Brunswick St | |
| Jonathan Rogers Park (Elisabeth Rogers) | West 7th Ave and Manitoba St | |
| Kingcrest Park | East 26th Ave and Knight St | |
| McSpadden Park | East 5th Ave and Victoria Dr | |
| Mount Pleasant Park | West 15th Ave and Ontario St | |
| Nelson Park | 1030 Bute St at Nelson St | |
| Pandora Park | East Hastings St and Nanaimo St | |
| Riley Park | East 30 Ave and Ontario St | |
| Riverfront Park | East Kent Ave S and Chandlery Pl | |
| Robson Park | East 14th Ave and Kingsway | |
| Sahali Park | East 8th Ave and Fraser St | |
| Slocan Park [approved] | East 29th Ave and Atlin St | |
| Stanley Park | Robson St at Lost Lagoon | |
| Strathcona | Hawkes Ave and Prior St | |
| Tea Swamp Park | East 15th Ave and Sofia St | |
| Woodland Park | 705 Woodland Dr |
City land can include some community centres and personal properties (households/apartment complexes).
| Arbutus Victory | East Blvd,between West 50th to 57th St | |
| Cedar Cottage Community Garden | Under Skytrain near Hull St and Victoria Dr | |
| Chester's Field Community Garden | Chester St and East 37th Ave | |
| Cheyenne | 2755 Cheyenne Ave | |
| China Creek Housing | East 8th Aveand Keith St | |
| City Hall Lawn Garden | West 10th Ave and Cambie St | |
| Copley Commons | Copley St and Vanness Ave | |
| CROWS Point Community Garden | Vanness Ave and East 24th Ave | |
| Cypress Community Garden | West 6th Ave and Cypress St | |
| Dundee Community Garden | 5395 Dundee St | |
| Horley Community Orchard | 2753 Horley St | |
| John McBride Garden | West 1st Ave and Wylie St | |
| Kerrisdale | East Blvd and West 60th Ave | |
| La Cosecha | East Broadway and Clark Dr | |
| Ladybug | East 8th Ave and Commercial Dr | |
| Maple Community Garden | West 6th Ave and Maple St | |
| Means of Production | East 6th Ave and St Catherines St | |
| M.O.B.Y | Commercial Dr and East 11th Ave | |
| Pine | West 6th Ave and Pine St | |
| Horley Community Orchard | 2753 Horley St | |
| John McBride Garden | West 1st Ave and Wylie St | |
| Kerrisdale | East Blvd and West 60th Ave | |
| La Cosecha | East Broadway and Clark Dr | |
| Ladybug | East 8th Ave and Commercial Dr | |
| Maple Community Garden | West 6th Ave and Maple St | |
| Means of Production | East 6th Ave and St Catherines St | |
| M.O.B.Y | Commercial Dr and East 11th Ave | |
| Pine | West 6th Ave and Pine St | |
| Purple Thistle Gardens | 1200 Parker St,1100 Vernon Dr, and 1100 Charles St | |
| SEFC Community Garden | 215 W 1st Ave | |
| SPEC Cambie Communal Garden | West 10th Ave and Cambie St | |
| Still Creek Community Garden | Kaslo St and East 28th Ave | |
| UP! Elgin | East 37th Ave and Elgin St | |
| The Village on False Creek | West 1st Ave and Columbia St | |
| World in a Garden | 7249 Cypress St |
Community Supported Agriculture: