The main focus of the Nanaimo Community Gardens Society is educational programming, both formal and informal, that helps families and individuals learn the skills necessary to grow, select, cook and preserve foods of all kinds.
Informal horticultural therapy takes place at all sites. Many individuals find it easy to socialize when working alongside others in the fresh air. By volunteering in this setting some people learn life and employment skills that carry over into other aspects of their lives.
Groups of children from schools and summer camps visit the Pine Street Garden for tours of the site and to learn more about growing their own food. If you would like to have your group tour the Pine Street Garden please contact pine street@nanaimocommunitygardens.ca
The Pine Street and Beban Learning Gardens are open to the public on any work party day (see the calendar for those dates) for you to check out and ask questions about the site, gardening or to learn how to get involved. No one is permitted on the sites before dawn or after dusk.
Our society is grateful to be able to use plant sales as an excellent educational opportunity. Knowledgeable volunteers are more than happy to give detailed gardening information to novice growers. Stop by our plant sales and ask those with years of experience how to be successful in growing your own food.
Nanaimo Community Gardens Society takes advantage of many community events such as the Wild Foods Festival and Nanaimo Seedy Sunday to educate the public about our programs. At these events, volunteers are also happy to give gardening advice.
Each year Nanaimo Community Gardens Society offers a range of workshops through the City of Nanaimo’s Activity Guide. Workshop topics include lasagna bed gardening, composting, pruning (basic and advanced), plant propagation, winter gardening and other timely gardening topics. See the Activity Guide for our workshops and let us know if there are any workshop topics you wish to see offered at info@nanaimocommunitygardens.ca.