The Oaklands Community Association (OCA) is considering possible locations to build a community garden in the Oaklands Neighbourhood. Currently, a group of volunteers is investigating opportunities in Oswald and Clawthorpe Parks. The OCA’s vision is to create an enhanced public space where children can cultivate an appreciation for nature’s bounty, where neighbours of all ages rub shoulders, and where those without land can grow healthy food.

At this stage of the project, the OCA is looking for community input to help shape a community garden project that is a good fit for our neighbourhood. 

Your involvement in this process is important! What do you think of having community garden in Oswald Park or Clawthorpe Park? Would you like to help with the design? Would you like to volunteer to help build the garden? Would you like to be on our email list for updates on next steps? Let us know!

The following contains background information on the Oaklands Community Garden project, along with maps to illustrate the approximate size and location of community gardens being considered in Oswald or Clawthorpe Park. Your early feedback on the idea of having a community garden within Clawthorpe or Oswald Park is important, and you are invited to be in touch in the following ways:

online survey: bit.ly/oaklandsgarden (or see below)

phone: 250-370-9101 ext. 4

email: community@oaklandsca.com

The City of Victoria is committed to “increase food production on public land including increasing community gardens in all neighbourhoods in the city, and building urban food systems into our parks operations”, and this goal appears in the City’s current Strategic Plan  (Strategic Objective #5: Health, Well-Being and a Welcoming City, pg. 20). As part of the City’s ongoing community gardening initiative, the Oakland Community Association has secured funding to build a community garden in our neighbourhood. For more information on the process of initiating a community garden, and the City of Victoria’s requirements and regulations please visit “Building a Community Garden on City Land.”   The OCA greatly appreciates the support and expertise of the City of Victoria staff during our planning process.  

Community surveys and early visioning exercises to date have helped our group form the following vision of a community garden in Oaklands:

The vision for a community garden in Oaklands is a garden that includes both common garden areas and individual allotment gardens. Allotment gardens would be raised beds gardens that would be rented and maintained by individuals. The common garden would have a mix of fruit, nuts, herbs and flowers marked with educational signage so that people strolling through the park could stop to nibble on berries, cut a sprig of herbs for their dinner, and perhaps gather some flowers for their table. We envision flower-lined entryways and paths, a wheelchair-accessible main path and beds (Oswald only), public art and whimsical child-friendly features throughout the garden. We would also like to incorporate a teaching area that could be used by local schools, colleges, and community groups. The gardens would have deer fencing with unlocked gates, and would be designed with open sightlines to ensure public safety. 

See the August 5, 2019 article by Vic News about a potential community garden in Oaklands!