A GROWING MISSION:  THE SAANICH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK GARDEN

Established in 2007, the Saanich Community Food Bank Garden is a practical project that provides fresh, nutritious food to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria BC.  The idea to plant a garden arose from a desire to be good stewards of the Saanich Community (Mennonite Brethern) Church property, to create a place to learn about sustainable food production, and to provide people with a practical way to help others in need.

Each year about 20 types of vegetables, fruits, and herbs are harvested, including carrots, beans, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, rhubarb, squashes, beets, turnips, oregano, parsley, chives, grapes and apples.

Relationships are nurtured as people labour together, caring for both people and plants.  The garden is tended entirely by volunteers who decide what, where, when and how to plant.  Volunteers come from our church and the broader community.  Consultant expertise comes from garden volunteers and ‘friends of the garden’.

Since its inception, the garden has produced thousands of pounds of produce that are delivered to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria weekly or biweekly from May to October.  Saanich Community Church is one of the few places that donates fresh produce to the food bank.  The nutritious produce goes into the hands of needy folks as soon as it is received at the food bank.

New volunteers are always welcome.  For more information, please contact the church office (250-479-0410) or email SaanichFoodBankGarden(at)gmail(dot)com.