Urban agriculture
school garden program
LUSH Valley’s Urban Agriculture team partners with Comox Valley Schools to offer customizable garden programs and workshops that have been proven to:
- Improve students’ food literacy and food-growing knowledge
- Create functional garden spaces conducive to outdoor learning
- Strengthen school garden culture
To find out how LUSH Valley could increase engagement and promote learning in your school garden, see our School Garden Offerings.
To explore grant opportunities that may support your school garden endeavours, visit School District 71’s Environmental & Outdoor Learning Grants & Funding page.
Community Gardens
Share the Harvest
On the corner of 6th Street and Harmston Avenue in Courtenay lies the Share the Harvest Community Garden.
From March through October, LUSH Valley provides gardeners with learning and mentorship opportunities, food-growing resources and access to urban growing space.
Work parties in the Share the Harvest Garden happen every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome; no experience or equipment required.
Tsolum
The Tsolum Educational Garden is located across from G.P. Vanier School on Headquarters Road in Courtenay.
With focuses on permaculture, regenerative agriculture and food growing education, this Garden hosts several youth and seniors programs for members of our community.
Work parties in the Tsolum Garden happen every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from March through October. Everyone is welcome; no experience or equipment required. Join us by showing up on a Tuesday, or emailing communitygarden@lushvalley.org.
Grow Food Everywhere
Created by LUSH Valley Food Action Society in partnership with the Comox Valley Food Policy Council, the Grow Food Everywhere network facilitates the sharing of tangible and intangible resources between gardeners, farmers and food growers in the Comox Valley.
The goal is to facilitate collaboration between community growers, and ensure that everyone has access to the resources and support needed to grow their own food.
If you wish to connect with the community, please visit Grow Food Everywhere on Facebook.
Little Seed Libraries
Did you know that LUSH Valley hosts two Little Seed Libraries in the Comox Valley that are stocked with seeds for community members?
The first is at our garden on Headquarters Road across from G.P. Vanier Secondary School, and the second is at our office & warehouse on Rosewall Crescent in Tin Town.
These community lending libraries aim to promote seed saving, increase agricultural biodiversity, and encourage community growing and resilience. They provide access to a variety of seeds including heirloom, open-pollinated, and locally-adapted varieties.
Folks are encouraged to borrow seeds for free, then return some of theirs at the end of the growing season. This way, the library can continue to provide seeds for future seasons’ growers.
LUSH Valley would like to sincerely thank our generous community partner organizations, community members and volunteers for their generous donations to our Urban Agriculture programs.
Banner image by McKinnon Photography.
