Gathering Gardeners

About the Gathering Gardeners

We are a group of mostly amateur gardeners who share our time and experience with each other, in the pursuit of increasing food security and social connection in the Marpole community. We have been active since 2021, meeting once a week, and coming by in our spare time to water, weed, and tend to the variety of plants we maintain.

We meet every Thursday from 11AM - 1PM at Marpole Neighbourhood House. We typically have a brief meeting at 11 to discuss our plans for the day, and then split into teams to accomplish tasks. After we finish working, we usually have snacks and discuss plans for the next week, before cleaning up.

We also host and participate in a variety of events throughout the year, including Seedy Saturdays, plant sales, gardening and vermicompost workshops, and field trips to other local farms and gardens. We also have a seed library that is open to the public during business hours, 10-3, Monday to Friday at the Marpole Neighbourhood House.

Garden Map

Garden Rules

1. Bee Kind.
   Our gardeners come from all walks of life, we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
   When offering advice to fellow gardeners, be sure to do so respectfully. Remember, it's okay to have different ways of doing things!
2. Bee Curious.
   If you're not sure about something in the garden, ask your fellow gardeners. If you can't find an answer, try looking it up! We have a library of gardening books for reference, and the whole internet at our disposal.
3. Bee Open.
   Listen to what your fellow gardeners have to say, and consider their advice. We come here to learn from each other, but none of us are experts. Remember to consult various sources when deciding how you want to tend your garden!
4. Bee Gentle.
   If you come to visit the garden, please tread carefully, and show respect for the work that our gardeners put in to cultivate this space. Don't touch anything that you haven't grown yourself. If you want to get your hands in the garden and share in it's harvest, come join us!

FAQ

How can I join?
Stop by the neighbourhood house on Thursday between 10AM and 1PM and ask for the gardeners! We will help you get started.

How are the beds managed?
Most of our work is done collectively, and everything planted in the ground is shared between all gardeners. People who attend regularly have the option to claim one of our raised beds and assume control over what is planted there and how it is harvested. Typically, we still share large duties, such as watering all the beds, and often we will share the harvest.

What is the organizational structure of the group?
We are all volunteers who give our spare time to maintaining the garden. We want to recognize that all our members come with their own set of skills, knowledge, and experience, and that everyone has something to contribute to the group. We are all encouraged to ask each other questions, offer advice, and look things up when we don't know the answer.

What is a Seed Library?
A seed library is a community resource offering free seeds for a wide variety of plants. Seeds are saved by our gardeners, or donated by other neighbours, or seed companies. You are welcome to take and leave seeds whenever the house is open. We have tutorials on Seed Saving on our Resources page.

What is a Seedy Saturday?
Seedy Saturday is an event hosted by many gardening groups around the world, in a variety of different formats. For us, it usually looks like an event where we offer seed exchange, plant sales, games, workshops, and crafts related to gardening and vermicompost. It's a nice time to come down, talk to our gardeners, learn about what we're doing, and find ways to participate! We tend to host them about twice a year. Keep an eye on the main page for updates on our next event!

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