The Welcome Gardens Project started when the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society empowered folks in Victoria to grow food & community in their own backyards.
Dream It
VIRCS wanted to help connect newcomers and local residents in order to help create a strong sense of community. The idea of Welcome Gardens sprouted from the understanding that there is no better way to connect than through food! The Welcome Gardens allow people to come together to grow and eat food, share stories and knowledge and to take time to connect to nature & each other through shared garden spaces and boulevards.
Build It
We are currently in the process of developing a new permaculture garden in Esquimalt for the 2020 growing season and beyond. A permaculture system helps to regenerate nutrients in the soil by utilizing the patterns we often see in natural ecosystems.
Check out our map design below!
Grow It
Welcome Gardens feature a wide variety of plant life from international foods to native plants and wildflowers like yarrow and sea blush to edible shoots, salal and hearty fruit trees. Program participants are able to actively grow local, nutritious and affordable food for themselves, their families and communities. We offer garden resources, mentorship, workshops & work parties to anyone interested in lending a helping hand in our gardens.
Gather
At VIRCS, our mission is to assist in the settlement and adjustment of immigrants and refugees in Canada. We aim to bring together people from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities who are interested in learning and teaching about growing food.
Collaborate
Welcome Gardens’ social connection objectives are to support participants in learning about each other’s food cultures, to promote meaningful and self-directed engagement in their learning and mentoring roles and receiving or offering informal support to each other.
Share
The Welcome Gardens Project works to provide the opportunity for intercultural understandings and multi-generational friendships through opportunities to work, learn and share together. We invite you to use your language skills to include and support others who communicate in different languages in order to help foster a shared positive experience in the gardens as well as strengthen your garden knowledge in Canadian official languages.