Vancouver Jewish Community Garden coordinator Maggie Wilson took the photo that graces this year’s cover of the Jewish Independent Summer issue. According to the garden’s newsletter, “A few strawberry plants opted to try their luck in the gravel and managed to produce the season’s first strawberries!”
The garden was established in 2020 by Vancouver Talmud Torah, Congregation Beth Israel and Jewish Family Services. It was made possible by the Diamond Foundation, which secured a long-term lease of the land for future development and is allowing the land to be used on a temporary basis, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Jewish Community Foundation and Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, who provided significant financial seed gifts.
The recent newsletter shared, “We have already harvested a crop of vibrant radishes, arugula, kale and herbs. Children and adults alike have enjoyed tasting nectar-laced kale flowers, and JFS’s chef used the fresh radishes in her Tuesday salad.
“The peas, seeded by VTT’s Grade 1 students, have started to ripen. The first small batch was harvested for JFS by VTT’s Green Thumb Club.”
Groups from JFS, VTT and BI “have spent time in the garden this spring, contributing their muscles, enthusiasm and appetites!
“JFS staff came to move wheelbarrows of compost into the garden beds to top-up and replenish the soil. They then enjoyed a picnic lunch in the garden.”
VTT students from grades 1 through 7 have come to help and learn in the garden, as have students from BI’s Hebrew school, and BI staff.
For community members looking to get involved in the garden, its website – jewishcommunitygarden.ca – is now live. Check it out for all things garden, including a continually updated slide show so you can follow along as the garden changes throughout the seasons. Upcoming volunteer opportunities will be posted, and information on how you can get involved. Everyone is welcome – there are tasks for all abilities and experience levels.