Good Health & Wellbeing

Food Stability Project

In the spring of 2019, the N-EAT team collaborated with local leadership and community members of the Kitasoo/ Xai’xais First Nation in Klemtu, BC to revitalize their greenhouse that had fallen into disrepair and build a community garden. That summer, community members were harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden; local school staff, students, and other community members attended workshops delivered by N-EAT’s Master Gardener, building intergenerational enthusiasm as families learned and gardened together; and a Klemtu Garden Coordinator was hired from within the community.

The Garden Coordinator, with the support of local gardeners and volunteers, manages the greenhouse and a portion of the outdoor garden beds that make up the community garden. The other portion of the beds are managed by individual community members and their families.

In April 2020, the Kitasoo Band Office conducted a community survey that provided positive and constructive feedback on the Klemtu Community Garden that led to the planning and implementation of the garden expansion. This will double the number of outdoor community garden beds growing bulk staple crops and increase the length of the growing season with the building of hoop houses over garden beds. Local champions and N-EAT team members are working together to further expand the capacity of the local food system to operate all year.

Read the full article here: SFU/N-EAT Project