In the heart of downtown Vancouver, the YWCA Rooftop Garden flourishes as a space for sustainability, wellness and community. From April to October, our garden coordinator and volunteers grow fruits, vegetables and Indigenous plants that provide nutritious meals at YWCA Crabtree Corner. This green space nurtures food security, environmental stewardship and opportunities for learning and connection.
This year, the Rooftop Garden will host new projects and events designed to deepen community engagement and celebrate traditional growing practices. The season kicked off in April with a special garden tour and information session for YWCA Health + Fitness members, employees and donors, featuring insights from master gardeners.
New this season, the YWCA’s Indigenous Initiatives and Engagement team will play a key role in garden stewardship, incorporating traditional ecological knowledge and expanding the variety of medicinal and edible plants. New additions such as salmonberry and multiple huckleberry varieties will enrich the garden’s biodiversity. Future possibilities include crafting tea blends and healing salves from garden-grown ingredients, providing hands-on learning experiences for participants.
Throughout the season, special events will bring the community together. The Summer Solstice celebration will honour the changing seasons with cultural teachings and interactive activities, while the Thanksgiving Harvest in October will offer a time to reflect on abundance and gratitude.
Beyond the rooftop, YWCA Metro Vancouver is expanding its commitment to sustainable green spaces by revitalizing gardens at Cheshá7min-aw̓txw, May Brown Place, Semlin Gardens and Fraser Gardens. These sites will receive fresh soil, Indigenous herbs, seeds and essential gardening tools to create thriving, long-lasting spaces that support residents.
From workshops to celebrations, there is much to look forward to in the coming months.
To learn more about supporting the YWCA Rooftop Garden, contact Sandra Cheung at scheung@ywcavan.org or 604 895 5824.
