Several examples of urban gardening were on display during the annual Family Farms Day in the Alberni Valley.
The 12th annual event, which took place on Sept. 15, 2024, was hosted by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the Alberni Valley Food Security Society. Visitors had a chance to check out seven different farms in the Alberni Valley and meet the farmers, purchase farm-fresh products and take part in some family-friendly activities.
While the tour featured some of the Alberni Valley's larger, rural farms — the Shelter Farm, Coleman Meadows, Rages Farm and Arrowvale Farm and Campground — visitors also had a chance to check out the potential for gardening and farming in urban areas.
Leonora King and David Reid opened "The Quackyard" on Angus Street just three years ago. The two squeeze in as much production as possible in their 5,700-square foot urban plot with egg-laying ducks and fibre-producing Angora rabbits. When it comes to plants, they grow everything from the standard tomatoes and potatoes to amaranth and parsnips.
Visitors last weekend had a chance to learn about the urban "re-wilding" of their boulevard and watch a fibre-spinning demo from the Alberni Valley Fibre Guild.
King explained that they purchased their home on Angus Street because they were interested in living within city limits.
"We didn't want to be away from the community," said King. "This way, we're right in the middle of town and everything is walkable. It was also sort of a fun challenge to see what we could do with an average-sized city lot."
There are both challenges and benefits when it comes to farming within city limits. While King and Reid don't have to worry about wild animals as much as farmers living out in Beaver Creek or Cherry Creek, they have to be more considerate of their neighbours.
"The ducks can be loud and the compost can be stinky," King laughed. "So it's important to be mindful of the community."
A new farm on the tour this year was the garden at École des Grands-cèdres. On Tebo Avenue, students, staff and families aim to create a permaculture food forest that can be used by all throughout the school year.
Parent Karli Gibson says the presence of a garden is part of the reason why her students attend École des Grands-cèdres.
"The garden wasn't really being used, but last year we put a real effort into it," she said. "The kids come out during school to work on it, but we also had some work bees with school families."
She says students are learning how to plant, harvest and prepare their own food. But the site also engages students in experiential education that will cultivate lifelong healthy habits, increase school connectedness, and foster personal responsibility, stewardship and sustainability.
"We see them out at lunch picking blackberries, onions and kale," she said. "They're more interested in eating vegetables than they are at home. We know how good [gardening] is for mental and physical health. But it also builds a sense of community."
She described students knocking on neighbours' doors to offer them potatoes. Through door-knocking, students also met their neighbour Jake Van Kooten, who is known for growing world-record-setting pumpkins. Gibson says Van Kooten has offered the students some tips and tricks for growing their own giant gourds.
The best way to get started with an urban garden plot, says Gibson, is to visit other people's gardens and get inspired. Her school was inspired by visiting the "food forest" at Wickaninnish Community School in Tofino.
"Most gardeners love to talk about gardening," said Gibson.
King encourages anyone who is interested in gardening to jump right in and try it out.
"It's important to not overthink it," said King. "Just experiment, and know it's going to take time."
