Grow Together Cooperative Garden

Grow Together is a cooperative garden project that was established on the south end of Quadra during the summer of 2023. The garden is part of the Food Security Team and is funded by United Way through the Strathcona Food Hub. The goal of the project is to encourage resiliency by working and learning together to produce food on Quadra.

A small group began working together last June on a 20m x 20m garden. They are now getting ready for the next growing season and the garden has increased to about 20mx30m. Last year the garden produced an impressive amount of beans, kale, onions, potatoes, mustard greens, beets, lettuce, and brussels sprouts.

More gardeners are welcome and needed to manage the expanded garden and to allow for absences. A maximum of 15 will be accepted so that there is a limit on traffic to and from the garden. Everyone who contributes labour to the cooperative garden will have a share in the produce. There is an expectation that gardeners will contribute an average of 2 hours of work per week. The Grow Together group may decide to share some produce with the Quadra Island Food Bank or with the ICAN Food Recovery Project.

The garden is on private property and has been farmed off and on for many years. It is at the south end of Quadra and has very fertile soil. The owner is part of the Grow Together program and we are working on an agreement to ensure a multi-year commitment. The exact location is provided to participants by arrangement in order to avoid drive-by visits.

Funding has provided for a paid coordinator, water storage, irrigation, soil amendments and tilling to restore growing beds.

The gardeners meet on Thursdays and Sundays from 2-4 pm. Meeting days and times may vary according to seasonal demands and watering.  NEW: Starting April 25th they will be meeting Thursdays 5-7pm and Sundays 2-4pm

March 2024 Update: About half of the garden beds are prepped and ready for the season. Some seeds and potatoes have been planted and the garlic is doing well. Onion sets are almost ready for planting. The 12×16 greenhouse is ready for spring production. Three water tanks are set up and being filled by rain water or pumped water from a pond. There are several blueberry bushes and some fruit trees that have been pruned and are about to blossom.

April 2024 Update: The whole garden is prepped for the season and planting has been
underway for all of April. The garden is about 30m x 15m.

Seven raised beds and walkways have been covered with cardboard and woodchips. Onion sets (300) will be planted by the end of April.

The 12×16 greenhouse is being used as a nursery for onions, cabbage, lettuce and so on. Three water tanks are set up and being filled
by rain water or pumped water from a pond.

A three-bin compost system is ready
to use and compost is being diverted from Aroma Café on a trial basis.

There are several blueberry bushes and some fruit trees that have been pruned and about to
blossom.