Green Living 

Still Moon Gardeners’ Gatherings

​How do you create a dye garden? What does it take to maintain and process these special pigment plants? Still Moon answers these questions at our bi-monthly Colour Me Local Dyers and Gardeners’ Gathering Work Parties.

​ We are host regular gatherings from June – August to offer the community the opportunity to participate in the maintenance and processing of the Colour Me Local Dye Garden. We will learn together, work together and enjoy the beauty of the garden and surrounding Renfrew Ravine.
​​
Cost: Free
Location: 3690 Vanness Avenue, Vancouver
Dates and times:​
  • Holly & Ivy Wreath-Making Workshop
    • ​Dec  7th |  12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
    • Dec  7th |  1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Village Vancouver

The Village Vancouver residency at McBride Fieldhouse is generously supported by the Vancouver Park Board's Fieldhouse Activation Program which provides project space and access to parks to foster community-engaged activity that focuses on arts, culture, sports, environment, local food and social encounters.     

Upcoming events:December 1, Sunday: 
WE Garden Club Holiday Celebration
  •    1:00 PM - 2:30 PM at West End Community Centre
December 2, Monday: 
Grow Your Own Sprouts and Microgreens
  •    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at West Point Grey Community Centre
December 3, Tuesday:
​Holiday Workshop: Edible Holiday Gifts in Mason Jars
  •    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Kitsilano Community Centre

Stanley Park Notebook

The Stanley Park Notebook is a section of The West End Journal publication that provides updates about Stanley Park, Vancouver ecology, and other outdoorsy topics. The January updates are courtesy of Chris Rothery, a Community Engagement Coordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society.  

Topics in this months blog include:
  • Beaver fencing - prevention measures to protect trees from beavers
  • Winter animals around Vancouver
  • The book "52 Ways to Walk" by Annabel Abbs-Streets
  • Forest bathing - a Japanese concept of connecting with nature as you walk

Gardening Programs - Gordon Neighbourhood House

Join the local gardener Jesse at the Native Plants Garden and learn about salal, huckleberries and other native plants to this area.

Indigenous Food Systems:
  • Celebrate the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, which have long stewarded this territory to produce an abundance of nutritious food.
  • Learn about how food systems are being challenged by climate change, poor management of marine resources, development and industry
  • Ensure the health and vitality of this place for generations to come.​
  • Free and available to everyone

Community Herb Box:
  • Spice up your meals with fresh herbs at your doorstep
  • Multiple herb boxes across the West End
  • Everyone is welcome to harvest some herbs

Urban Gardening:
  • Gordon House operates multiple volunteer-led urban garden plots across the West End
  • They grow everything from daikon to tomatoes, and all the produce is used for community benefit
  • All ages and abilities welcome
  •  Raised wheelchair accessible plots are available for our friends with limited mobility
  • To volunteer please 
    Email: [email protected]

Gathering Gardeners

Come and meet others in your neighbourhood who enjoy gardening and share the love of growing plants and food. The group meets weekly at the Marpole Neighbourhood House.

Open to gardeners of all abilities and interests. 

Dates: Thursdays | 10 am - 12 pm
Location: 8585 Hudson St., Vancouver
Cost: Free for members, annual membership is $6 for adults

West End Urban Garden Club

Join the West End Neighbourhood Food Network’s Urban Garden Club and Village Vancouver at their monthly, family-friendly, gathering. Each month features a short presentation or discussion on a different food or gardening related topic. October's theme is all about countertop kitchen gardens.

Details:
  • Family friendly, children are welcome when accompanied by an adult
  • Free entry
  • Pick up, donate, or swap seeds with the community seed bank
    ​
Dates: Varies, Held monthly
Location: West End Community Centre Meeting Room
  • #2 - 870 Denman St., Vancouver

TD Green Space & Arbor Day Foundation Planting Event

Come join the community for a special planting event sponsored by TD Green Space/the Arbor Day Foundation. Help us contribute to habitat conservation and restoration, and preserve the biodiversity in Stanley Park by planting native herbs, ferns, shrubs, and trees in disturbed parts of the park.

In 2023, they planted north of Beaver Lake as part of one of the biggest planting seasons ever. Tools, plants, and other equipment was provided by generous partners at TD Green Space/the Arbor Day Foundation and the Vancouver Park Board.

Date: Annually each Fall
Location: Stanley Park
Email: [email protected]

Free Swaps Around Vancouver

Commit to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Swing by a Free Swap, donate items you no longer need, and pick-up some gently used items. 

Donate:
  • Accepted items: Items that are good, clean, in working condition, ​and small enough to fit in a grocery bag. This includes books, clothing, art, household items, etc. 
  • Items not accepted: Food, furniture, footwear, medicine, bedding, hazardous materials, etc.
  • No requirements for the number of items donated/no donation necessary. 
  • Check-in donated items with the event organizers when you arrive.​ ​

Email: [email protected]
Upcoming events:
Magee Secondary School parking lot
Location: 6360 Maple St
Date: August 24, 2024 | 10 am - 1 pm

VPL Fraserview Branch
Location: 1950 Argyle Dr​
Date: September 7, 2024 | 11 am - 1:30 pm

Killarney Community Centre parking lot
Location: 6260 Killarney St​
Date: September 21, 2024 | 10 am - 1pm

​David Suzuki Foundation

Mission of the David Suzuki Foundation:
  • To preserve and safeguard the natural environment in Canada
  • To promote sustainability and climate solutions
  • Promote action through research, education, and policy analysis
  • Various ways to get involved, including local projects and community engagement, online resources, and volunteer opportunities
    ​
Partners of the Foundation:
  • Governmental agencies at all levels
  • Nonprofit groups
  • Local businesses
  • Private citizens
    ​
Phone: 604-732-4228

UBC Garden Explorer - Virtual Tour

The Garden Explorer provides information on the plants and other foliage within UBC Botanical Garden's collections and grounds. The site is free for anyone to access and explore. 

Website Features:
  • Tours of different garden sections
  • Search for plants by name and variety
  • Detailed and interactive map of the garden
  • And more features!

Email: [email protected]

Parks, gardens and beaches
The Vancouver Park Board:
  • Manages a large number of parks in the city
  • Parks make up about 11% of the total land area
  • Parks vary in size and include both small neighborhood green spaces and large destination parks with feature gardens

Access to Vancouver's natural beauty:
  • Vancouver residents and visitors have many opportunities to enjoy the city's natural beauty and access to the sea
  • A 22 km Seawall encircles Stanley Park and False Creek
  • 10 ocean beaches and one freshwater lake beach are available

Activities in Vancouver:
  • Regardless of the weather, visitors can experience Vancouver's natural splendor and be active in many ways
  • There are a variety of activities available, such as walking, jogging, cycling, and rollerblading
  • Water sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming are also popular

Connecting Environmental Professionals - Vancouver Meetings and Events

CEP hosts regular meets and events that are open to anyone interested in environmental causes and the sustainability community. They are an opportunity to connect with others and be inspired. The volunteer-led organization also offers mentorship opportunities to interested individuals.

Meeting Details:
  • Events are pay-what-you-can
  • Regular meetings, workshops, speakers, and forums
  • Engage with others in the community
  • Employment and mentorship opportunities
  • Connect with other groups across Canada
 
Locations: Various locations around Vancouver
Cost: Most events are free to attend

Vancouver's Farmer's Markets
Vancouver's farmer's markets offer a range of locally grown and produced items. While the produce at farmer's markets may be pricier than at other outlets, these markets have a great community vibe and often feature live music.

​At these markets, you can find:
  • Vegetables and fruit
  • Meat and seafood from local ranchers and fishermen
  • Artisan cheese and bread
  • Herbs and seasonal nursery items
  • Baked goods and prepared foods
  • Artisanal crafts
​
Riley Park / Nat Bailey Stadium 
Date: Saturday
  • 10 am - 2 pm
Where: 50 East 30th Ave, Vancouver

Trout Lake 
Date: Saturdays from April 1 - October 28
  • 9 am - 2 pm 
Where: Lakewood Dr. & E 13th Ave., Vancouver

Kitsilano
Date: Sundays from May 7 - October 29
  •  10 am - 2 pm 
Where: Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St.

West End
Date: Saturdays from May 20 - October 28
  • 9 am - 2 pm
Where: 110 Comox St. (between Bute & Thurlow) 

Mount Pleasant
Date:  Sundays from May 21 to October 29
  •  10 am - 2 pm
Where: Dude Chilling Park - 8th Ave & Guelph St

Main Street Station​
Temporarily closed due to construction

Downtown 
Date:  Wednesdays from May 31 - November 29
  • 2 pm - 6 pm 
Where: 750 Hornby St. at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn Square 

False Creek
Date:  Thursdays from June 1 - October 5
  • 3 pm - 7 pm
Where: Creekside Park, 1455 Quebec St.

Hastings Park Winter Farmer's Market
Date:   November 5 - April 28
  • 10 am - 2 pm
Where: PNE Fairgrounds between the Forum and Agrodome

Zero-Waste Team Meetings

Learn more about ongoing waste reduction projects and other zero-waste topics in Metro Vancouver at the monthly Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) team meeting. Topics include practical tools for reducing waste, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and addressing pollution. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation. 

Date: Second Wednesday of each month
  • 6:30 pm - 8 pm 
Where: Virtual via Google Meets

​Note: Sign-up for the SPEC newsletter.

tREX: The Renewable Energy eXperience 

Learn about green energy and technology in Vancouver during a tour around Olympic Village. The tour highlights waste-to-energy generation, LEED certification, passive design, and other forms of sustainable energy. 

One tour held each month, dates vary ​
Hours: 6 pm - 7:30 pm, and are approximately 1.5 hours
Where: Meet at the Olympic Village Skytrain Station
Cost: Free registration, donations are appreciated