About

The University of Victoria’s Campus Community Garden is a collaborative project between students, faculty and staff that promotes local, organic food production, education and community building.

Our Campus Community works under an anti-oppression framework and strives to be an open and inclusive space to all members of the university campus. We acknowledge the Coast and Straights Salish territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples upon which our garden grows and are grateful to the original stewards of the land for hosting us. We strive to be a place where Indigenous knowledge and voices be respected and supported and are still learning how to best practice this.

Our aim is to provide an accessible space were members can learn and teach while fostering sustainable food production practices within the campus and larger local communities. We work under an organic gardening model whose best practices exclude the use of pesticide and genetically modified organism. Not only do we wish to promote the growth of healthy local produce but work to support the ecology of our area by planting local species and supporting pollinators.

We believe the Campus Community Garden is  both an educational and productive project for even the curious or occasional gardener (including those without a green thumb!). So come on out and join us sometime!

History

The garden was first established by the Environmental Studies Student Association (ESSA) in 1996 when there was interest by the staff and students involved in ESSA to grow food. It was transferred to the housing network due to lack of funding and support, then was transferred back to ESSA in the early 2000's. In 2007 the garden became a UVSS club and was still entirely volunteer run with the main source of funding from renting out the plots. The garden then became an affiliate group in 2013 where there were some changes in staff capacity (now currently 2 part-time staff and 1 seasonal) and referendums held to obtain a consistent student levy. 

In 2011 the garden was moved to the current location, where it was able to expand to accommodate more community plots and make some infrastructure changes (improved greenhouse, added permaculture beds). As well they started coordinating with the Food Bank and in 2015/16 beds in front of the SUB were planted.

Visions for the future

• More fruit trees planted and accessible for students 
• native plant hedgerow to block the wind
• more space for more food production at the garden, as well as more food production at other spots on campus
• becoming a resource centre to be able to facilitate classes/groups on campus
• create an agricultural and food production based program
• work more with outside partners to create an incubator farm
• reusing the Cedar Hill Corner orchard space