Nursery

  • Saanich’s Bear Hill gets ready for 5-year CRD farm pilot program. Vic News. Feb 3, 2026.

    Published 3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3, 2026 By Christine van Reeuwyk
    Read more at: https://vicnews.com/2026/02/03/saanichs-bear-hill-gets-ready-for-5-year-crd-farm-pilot-program/

    Bear Hill Farm, viewed from above in 2025, is a pilot project in partnership with the Capital Regional District to develop and maintain an agriculture focus activating under utilized lands for food production. (CRD report)
    Read more at: https://vicnews.com/2026/02/03/saanichs-bear-hill-gets-ready-for-5-year-crd-farm-pilot-program/

    A regional park is almost ready to raise farmers on a recently revamped tree nursery in Saanich. A plot in Bear Hill Regional Park serves as a pilot project for the Capital Regional District, under its new Foodlands Access Service established in February 2025. Fallow nearly a decade, with only a small portion used as by the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society as a seedling nursery, and previously used as a City of Victoria nursery, CRD staff are now seeking final board approval to use the land for a five-year farm pilot.

    Dubbed a farmer-incubator site, the district already allocated a partnership of Haliburton Community Organic Farm Society and LifeCycles Project Society to operate the site, the regional parks committee heard during its Jan. 28 meeting.

    Haliburton has two decades of experience in farm incubation and agricultural land management, with a focus on supporting certified organic and regenerative farming practices. LifeCycles is a regional leader in food literacy and security.

    Preliminary preparation started in November, according to an information report shared with the committee. That work included clearing brush, invasive plants, trees and stumps alongside soil sampling and testing. Building a base is anticipated to continue the first half of 2026, with a focus on building out farm infrastructure, remediation and policy development including refinement of the farmer application process, land agreements and tenancy responsibilities. The Farmland Access Service aims to use the existing house, with some investment for safety upgrades, to support farm operations. The plan includes removal of a dilapidated barn on the property. The plan is to have farmers selected and accessing the land at 5920 Patricia Bay Hwy by August.

  • Improvement for GOMPS Garry Oak Volunteer Nursery From Nature-based Climate Action Grant – Victoria Foundation

    Improvement for GOMPS Garry Oak Volunteer Nursery From Nature-based Climate Action Grant – Victoria Foundation

    In 2023 GOMPS applied for a Nature-based Climate Action Grant administered by the Victoria Foundation for key infrastructure and maintenance investments for sustainability of the GOMPS Garry Oak Volunteer Nursery.

    In 2024 GOMPS received a $13,000 grant to assist with Nursery costs including the erection of a secure and safe work shelter for nursery volunteers having lost 2 previous shelters due to wind, snow & storm damage.

    GOMPS thanks Volunteer Susan Grant who researched shelters, arranged & supervised installation of the shelter and Volunteer Marion Nyberg for making the shelter’s accesses safe for volunteers & visitors.

    The latest Nursery shelter made it through its first winter enabling volunteers to better enjoy the workparties at the Volunteer Nursery!

    Picture by Judith Carder. GOMPS Nursery new work shelter.

  • Thank you Pender Islands Conservancy!

    Last February 23, 2022, Dr. Erin O’Brien & Dan Baxter with the Pender Islands Conservancy picking up 40 of our Garry oak seedlings for new homes on the Pender Islands. Quoting Dr. Erin here, “Thank you and all your volunteers for all you do to help restore Garry Oak ecosystems!” 

    Pender Islands Conservancy 1
    Pender Islands Conservancy 2

  • Thank you Ms. Maxine Moiner!

    Last December 7, 2021, Ms. Maxine Moiner and partner picked up 10 x 2 gal seedlings for new home in Errington. And so, on behalf of everyone here at the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society we are very grateful for your support.

  • Thank you Mr. Malcolm McCartney!

    We would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Malcolm McCartney of Duncan, who is creating a Garry oak ecosystem on his property. He picked up 20 of our volunteer nursery seedlings. 

  • Thank you to Doncaster School for the Acorn Donation!

    We would like you extend our gratitude to the Grade 4 students at École Élémentaire Doncaster for their wonderful donation of Acorns.

    We especially liked the handmade card included with the acorns. Thanks to the artist(s) who created the card. Very nicely done!

    The acorns that Division 5 collected for us this year will be more than enough to complete our 2020 acorn collection. We’ll keep them all safely refrigerated until early 2021 and then they’ll be planted out next February/March.

    On behalf of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society,  our thanks, once again, for your generous donation. Best wishes to those hard working students.

    Doncaster School 1
    Doncaster School 2
    Doncaster School 3

  • An Oak out in the Community

    It is always exciting when our trees leave the Garry Oak Nursery! As time goes on, more and more of our little oak are being adopted out into the community and planted into their permanent homes. Local couple Liz and Dan sent us these photos of an oak they picked up this May being planted into their yard. It is wonderful to see one of our seedlings help to naturalize our local landscapes!

    An Oak out in the Community 1
    An Oak out in the Community 2
    An Oak out in the Community 3

  • Garry Oak Nursery work party Sunday, April 28th

    Hello Garry oak growers,

    This is a gentle reminder of the upcoming Garry Oak Nursery work party on Sunday, April 28th from 10am to 1pm. We’ve just begun the push to get all the acorns planted: we have 375 in the soil so far! Come join in the particularly pleasant task of planting these acorns and soon we’ll be able to see their cute little leaves sprouting out of the soil!

    As a reminder, there is a proper toilet (porta-potty type) on the premises.  Gloves, tools & refreshments are provided. Weather appropriate clothing & good work boots are recommended!

    Learn more about volunteering

  • Schedule of upcoming Garry Oak Nursery work parties

    Hello again, Garry oak growers!

    The schedule of upcoming work parties has been confirmed. They will continue weekly on alternating Saturdays and Sundays. The Saturday work parties will be from 2pm to 5pm and the Sundays will be from 10am to 1pm.

    See the schedule below:

    • Saturday, April 20th from 2pm – 5pm
    • Sunday, April 28th from 10am – 1pm
    • Saturday, May 4th from 2pm – 5pm 
    • Sunday, May 12th from 10am – 1pm
    • Saturday, May 18th from 2pm – 5pm 
    • Sunday, May 26th from 10am – 1pm

    Learn more about volunteering here!

  • Garry Oak Nursery work party March 31st

    Hello and happy spring to all you Garry oak growers!

    The GOMPS Garry oak nursery is back up and running smoothly, with a new shelter erected and the irrigation system turned back on. A recent visit to the Nursery saw slightly dry pots but otherwise healthy oaks with no signs of winter damage.

    Work parties are scheduled for the following dates:

    • Sunday, March 31st, 10am to 1pm
    • Saturday, April 6th, 2pm to 5pm
    • Sunday, April 14th, 10am to 1pm

    Judith and Judy will be hosting the upcoming work party on Sunday, March 31st from 10am to 1pm.

    As a reminder, there is a proper toilet (porta-potty type) on the premises.  Gloves, tools & refreshments are provided. Weather appropriate clothing & good work boots are recommended!

    Learn more about volunteering here!

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