A GROWING MISSION:  THE SAANICH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK GARDEN

Established in 2007, the Saanich Community Food Bank Garden is a practical project that provides fresh, nutritious food to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria, BC.  The idea arose from a desire to be good stewards of our church property, to create a place to learn about sustainable food production, and to provide people with a practical way to help others in need.

Each year about 20 types of vegetables, fruit, and herbs are harvested, including carrots, beans, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, rhubarb, squash, beets, turnips, oregano, parsley, chives, grapes, berries and apples.

Relationships are nurtured as people labour together, caring for both people and plants. The garden is tended entirely by volunteers who decide what, where, when and how to plant.  Volunteers come from our church and the broader community.  Consultant expertise comes from garden volunteers and ‘friends of the garden’.

Since its inception, the garden has produced thousands of pounds of produce that are delivered to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria weekly or biweekly from May-October.  Saanich Community Church is one of the few places that donates fresh locally grown produce to the food bank.  The nutritious produce goes into the hands of needy folks (usually families with children) as soon as it is received at the food bank.

Would you like to volunteer?  We usually meet to plant, harvest and tend the garden on Saturday mornings from May to early October.  For more information, please email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .