I started my first victory garden this spring with heaps of manure, buckets of compost and mountains of ambition. Alas, with a few standout exceptions—snap peas, a variety of berries and a few evidently invincible summer squash—my edible Eden is pretty much a flop.
Perhaps I should’ve started at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at University of British Columbia Farm. The last working farm in Vancouver, BC—or perhaps the first of what will be a new generation of urban plantations—welcomes visitors from near and far, and nourishes deep ties with the community.
Every Saturday between now and the end of October, the operation—located on the campus at the far west side of Vancouver—opens the gates and sells some of the 150 varieties of produce to keen locavores at its farmers’ market. Check the website for a list of community events featuring bee tours, blackberry picking, and fun for kids and families.
The farm also welcomes casual drop-in volunteers on urban-farmer “work party” days (Fridays, all day), and is currently embarking on a new project called “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate.” Sounds good to me. Maybe I should start with my soil...
www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/volunteer.php www.tourismbc.com