Fernwood is one of two neighbourhoods in Victoria which houses the City of Victoria’s Community Orchard Pilot Project. The Fernwood Community Orchard was planted on September 28, 2013 with the help of 20 incredible volunteers. This orchard demonstrates a new way of growing food in the City of Victoria in visible, public places.
A Community Orchard is a grove of fruit or nut trees in a public park where a community group participates in the care, maintenance, and harvesting of the trees. The food that is produced is then shared with the neighbourhood. Our Community Orchard has 25 fruit trees. There is a variety of apple, pear, plum, and fig trees. Each fruit tree variety was selected for its heritage value, disease resistance, ability to adapt to climate change, and flavour.
Fernwood will have to be patient because it will take a few years for these trees to produce fruit. In the meantime, here is a selection of trees planted in the orchard to get you excited:
We will be hosting work parties, workshops on pruning, grafting, and processing in the future. To join our volunteer list, email info@fernwoodnrg.ca.
Thanks to the Roger Colwill Fund for the Environment, Real Estate Foundation of BC, and the Vining Street Block Party for your donations to help make this project possible. Thanks to Acorn & Branch Gardening and Landscaping for the your help with the install of our rock walls.