There are new delicious, all-natural treats at a food garden in Nanaimo.
Operated by volunteers, the garden at Beaufort Park sports a variety of trees and plants – each providing edible nuts, berries or fruit to the community. Now, the garden is expanded to include an area dedicated exclusively for native plants, thanks to a project spearheaded by Youth 20/20 Can.
Anni Thesen, youth engagement worker with Youth 20/20 Can, said the idea for the native plant garden came from the program's youth volunteers.
"Over the last year and the summer we volunteered weekly at the food forest which is when the idea came about to have a native plant garden," she said.
To support the project, the organization received a $2,000 grant from the city, which went toward buying plants and soil.
Mayor Leonard Krog praised the youths' effort.
"It's a great initiative and I'm particularly delighted to see it here in this park," he said. "My old friend Brian Fisher is honoured over here with a planting. He was the ultimate tree guy, and so this is the perfectly appropriate place and it shows the torch has been passed from one generation to another."
Allen Henderson, a volunteer coordinator at the food garden, said multiple demographics regularly visit the space, including home-schooled youths, a counselling group, Youth 20/20 Can and seniors.
"Even though we have over 55 fruit and nut trees and a bunch more berry bushes and a lot more other plants, there's still opportunity for so much more development here," Henderson said.
Some of the new plants include the Pacific crab apple, highbush cranberry, dull Oregon grape, blue and black elderberry, Pacific ninebark, osoberry, bunchberry, coastal strawberry, huckleberry, salmonberry, thimbleberry, Saskatoon berry and red flowering currant.
"There are a few plants in there that aren't really food plants, but because we're in a food forest we tried to continue the theme using native plants that produce food," Henderson said.
While the food forest is open to everyone, he said there is etiquette.
"Harvest lightly and share fairly. We have had some issues with people over-harvesting, taking more than their fair share of fruit or vegetables and unfortunately, often it's before the fruit or vegetables are actually ready. So that's another thing we hope we have the opportunity to teach the community is about sharing a community food resource like this."
Food forest volunteers are on site Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Those wanting to donate are asked to approach volunteers on site.