Strathcona

Community Gardens

A green oasis in the city

Hi, we're the Strathcona Community Gardeners Society

We’re a volunteer-managed public green space on 1.35 hectares (3.34 acres) of city land in Vancouver Eastside on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Local residents began transforming the site from an informal dump in 1985. Recognizing its role as a leader in community-run ecological stewardship, the Park Board signed in 2005 a 25 year lease with the Strathcona Community Gardeners Society, a non–profit charitable organization which members join each year to renew their garden plots.

Getting Involved

Work parties for Cottonwood and Strathcona are held once a month on the last Sunday of the month, every month except for December. Attendance is required at a certain number of work parties per year to maintain membership.

We have plots available for the next work party

Projects

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Wetland

Led by Strathcona Community Garden (SCG) & the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA), leaders in community-run ecological stewardship, with support from partners and collaborators, including the Vancouver Parks Board and BC Wildlife Federation. Aligned with the 2021-2030 United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration – Preventing, Halting and Reversing the Degradation of Ecosystems Worldwide. This project will involve a series of rain gardens and swales to connect to a retention pond and wetland habitat, greatly enhancing this unique and much valued inner-city community greenspace.

Eco-pavilion

The Eco-Pavilion, built in 1997 by young women learning trades on an EYA job training program, provides space for meetings, workshops, and other events. The building was created using sustainable and reclaimed material and incorporates natural systems such as solar power, rain water collection, grey water cleansing as well as a composting toilet. It has kitchen amenities with cold and hot water available during the growing season.

apiary

Built in 1995, the bee shed provides an onsite location to harvest honey that is offered for sale first to interested gardeners.

BuddhA Pond

Built in the late 1980s, in area was too wet and unsuitable for a plot. The buddha pond is here for all to enjoy and to maintain, if it so moves them.