HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2021-12-02 agenda.pdf City of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee
AGENDA
Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Held via Zoom Teleconference
Meeting Access Information
To practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic we will be holding the Agricultural
Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting via Zoom teleconference. All participants including members of the
AAC and the public are asked to join the meeting from home using the following access information:
Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone
https://mapleridge-ca.zoom.us/j/81221223654?pwd=YW1nK3dObTVQbEltbGp5YjBBR0QzQT09
Or join the meeting using your phone
Dial: +17789072071 Meeting ID: 812 2122 3654 Passcode: 251981
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES – October 4, 2021
4. DELEGATIONS – NIL
5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1. Community Gardens
5.2. Flooding Impacts on Agricultural Community – Update
6. LIAISON UPDATES
6.1. Staff Liaison
6.2. Council Liaison
7. TASK FORCE UPDATES
7.1. 2021 Food and Garden Contest
8. QUESTION PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC
9. ROUNDTABLE
10. ADJOURNMENT
Next Meeting: January 27, 2022 / Agenda Submission Deadline: January 13, 2022
QUESTION PERIOD
Question Period provides the public with the opportunity to ask questions or make comments on subjects that are of
concern to them. Each person will be given 2 minutes to speak.
Up to ten minutes in total is allotted for Question Period.
City of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee
MEETING MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee,
held via Zoom teleconference on October 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm
____________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Councillor Gordy Robson Council Liaison
Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large
Carla Schiller, Vice Chair Member at Large
Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Representative
Conley Keyes B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member)
Alex Pope Fraser North Farmers Market Society Representative
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Adam Rieu Staff Liaison, Planner 1
Mike McLean Committee Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services
Stephanie Nichols Corporate Officer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Shannon Lambie Agriculture Land Commission (Non-voting member)
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:01 pm
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2021-014
It was moved and seconded
That the agenda for the October 4, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be approved
as circulated.
CARRIED
3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2021-015
It was moved and seconded
That the minutes of the June 24, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be adopted.
CARRIED
4. DELEGATIONS
4.1 Open Air Burning – Metro Vancouver
Julie Saxton, Air Quality Planner, Parks and Environment, Metro Vancouver
J. Saxton provided a presentation on the effects of open-air burning, including the health and
environmental impacts, current regulations and scope of proposed emission regulations.
Note: J. Saxton left the meeting at 7:28 pm
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
October 4, 2021
Page 2 of 3
4.2 Cannabis Regulations – Metro Vancouver
Arvind Saraswat, Senior Project Engineer, Bylaw and Regulation Development, Parks and
Environment
A. Saraswat provided a presentation on managing emissions from cannabis production and
processing, including site-specific permitting and approval, regulation development process,
proposals for managing emissions from indoor cultivation, emissions management plans and
emissions control requirements for cannabis production facilities.
Note: E. Berube joined the meeting at 7:35 pm
Note: C. Schiller joined the meeting at 7:37 pm
Note: A. Saraswat left the meeting at 7:42 pm
Note: E. Berube left the meeting at 7:42 pm
5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1 Agricultural Education Update
The Staff Liaison provided an update on agriculture education initiatives, including the ‘All
Things Compost’ event and the speaker series.
5.2 2022 Committee Work Plan Draft
The Staff Liaison presented the Committee with the 2022 draft EAC Work Plan to be reviewed
and endorsed by Council. Items on the work plan include gathering public input into the
development of community gardens and food and garden contest, exploring alternative options
for underutilized fallow lands, providing education and awareness of farm vehicles on City
roads, assisting with the development and implementation of Agricultural Plan and exploratory
options for 2022.
R/2021-016
It was moved and seconded
That the 2022 Committee Work Plan Draft be adopted as presented.
CARRIED
5.3 Fall Membership Recruitment
The Staff Liaison provided an update on the recruitment of Committee members.
6. LIAISON UPDATES
6.1 Staff Liaison
The Staff Liaison discussed Agricultural Land Commission approvals and additional dwelling
units and secondary suites.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
October 4, 2021
Page 3 of 3
6.2 Council Liaison
Council Robson provided an update on the following:
• The loss of dairy farms
• Cube farming
• Update of the ‘Grow a Row, Give a Row’ initiative
7. TASK FORCE UPDATES
7.1 2021 Food and Garden Contest
The Staff Liaison provided an update on submissions for the 2021 Food and Garden Contest.
8. QUESTION PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC - NIL
9. ROUNDTABLE
Members provided updates and reports on related agricultural activities and events.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 8:42 pm
Bill Hardy, Chair
/mm
URBAN AGRICULTURE
GARDEN GUIDE
MANUAL FOR STARTING AND DESIGNING URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS
The Urban Agriculture Project Design Manual was
produced by Anežka Gočová for the Vancouver Board
of Parks and Recreation and the City of Vancouver as an
initiative of the Greenest City Scholar program.
A huge thank you to Jason Hsieh for his guidance and
support on this project.
Also a special thank you to Sara Orchard, James O’Neil,
Lindsay Cole, Katie Dolling, Jennifer Wahl, Marta
Goodwin, Joanna Clark and Nick Page for their insights
and knowledge.
i URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT GUIDE
GREENEST CITY SCHOLAR PROJECT FOR
THE CITY OF VANCOUVER AND VANCOUVER
BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION
URBAN AGRICULTURE
GARDEN GUIDE
MANUAL FOR STARTING
AND DESIGNING URBAN
AGRICULTURE PROJECTS
This urban agriculture manual is
intended to provide the necessary
information to successfully apply
for, design and construct an Urban
Agriculture Project on City of
Vancouver publicly owned land.
URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT GUIDE ii
TABLE OFCONTENTS
iii URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT GUIDE
WHAT IS URBAN AGRICULTURE ....................................... 1
HOW TO GET STARTED ............................................... 2
CHOOSING A SITE .................................................... 4
CITY-OWNED LAND
PROCESS MAP ........................................................ 8
1. DECIDE TO START AN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT ............... 10
2. SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST .............................. 11
3. DEVELOP AND REFINE THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN ..................... 14
4. SUBMIT A FORMAL GARDEN APPLICATION .......................... 15
5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION ............................................. 16
6. SECURE FUNDS FOR START-UP ..................................... 16
7. PURCHASE INSURANCE ............................................. 17
8. ENTER INTO A LICENSING AGREEMENT ............................. 17
9. CONSTRUCTION .................................................... 18
10. ONGOING PROCESS ............................................... 18
DESIGNER’S MANUAL
OVERVIEW ........................................................... 22
1. CONTEXT AND CONNECTIONS ...................................... 24
2. LAYOUT ............................................................ 28
3. PLANTING DESIGN AND MATERIALS ................................ 34
ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION ..................................... 35
SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ............................................ 37
SENSORY GARDEN ................................................. 38
ECOLOGICAL HEALTH .............................................. 41
RECOMMENDED EDIBLE PLANTS FOR VANCOUVER ................. 44
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 1
Urban Agriculture refers to the growing plants for food and other related uses
(pollinator encouragement, etc.), within or surrounding cities and towns.
This may include:
The City of Vancouver recognizes that Urban Agriculture makes an extremely
valuable contribution to the well-being of its citizens and the resiliency and
sustainability of the city as a whole. In fact, “Growing more food in the city” was
identified as one of the highest priority actions in the
Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. The city has embraced
this action by setting a goal of increasing food assets by
50% by 2020 (from 2010 numbers). In order to achieve
this, various steps have been taken to better support
and work with residents and community groups that are
interested in establishing food growing spaces in order
to promote healthy urban systems and active living and
wellness.
This guide is intended to aid the collaboration between residents and City staff
in starting, designing and carrying out an Urban Agriculture project in the City of
Vancouver.
Urban Agriculture promotes
community development
and education, and increases
self-reliance, community health,
wildlife habitat, environmental
awareness and social interaction
among residencts. It plays a
crucial role in achieving food
sovereignty and strengthening
the local food network of a city.
community gardens
community orchards
permaculture projects
pollinator gardens
shared growing
edible landscaping
URBA N A G R ICU L TURE
LOCAL FO O D
WHAT ISURBAN AGRICULTURE?
“ Grow
more
food in
the city”
2 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
WHY START AN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT?
An Urban Agriculture Project can help improve food security for participants by
increasing physical and economic access to adequate amounts of healthy food.
These projects provide health, economic, educational, social, and environmental
benefits to participants and the community at large.
HOW TOGET STARTED
WHERE AND HOW TO START AN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT?
The City of Vancouver is dedicated to helping citizens to establish Urban
Agriculture projects. Projects can be built on city and non-city owned land with
the process, level of support and engagement differing based on site location and
nature of project. See next page for tips on choosing a site.
IDENTIFY SITE
NON-CITY LAND:
If you would like to start a project
on Non-City land, you can apply for
assistance from the city by filling
out an Application for Assistance for
Small Urban Agriculture Projects form:
vancouver.ca/files/cov/urban-agricul-
ture-projects-application-for-assis-
tance.docx
CITY-OWNED LAND:
If you choose to start your project
on City-owned see page 7 of this
document for a step-by-step guide to
the process.
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 3
ORGANIZE A GATHERING OF INTERESTED PARTIES.
Questions to ask at first meeting:
Ӳ Is there enough support in the community? Who will
benefit from this project?
Ӳ What is the purpose? What are the objectives (ex.
access to healthy food, education, biodiversity
improvement) of the urban agriculture project? The
answer to this question will influence the design of the
site later on.
Ӳ Is there a potential site? Will it meet the needs of the
community?
Ӳ What is the timeline? What is your short-term and
long-term plan.
Ӳ Is there interest and demonstrated support for an
urban agriculture project in the community?
At the end of the meeting make sure you have:
Ӳ Clarified the intent
Ӳ Developed a vision
Ӳ Identified objectives
Ӳ Found an interested non-for profit society (for projects
on city-owned land)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON MOBILIZING COMMUNITY:
Ӳ Community Garden Best Practices Toolkit: A Guide for Community
Organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador: goo.gl/Hnr9OV
Ӳ Getting Started in Community Gardening: A Guide to Planning,
Design and Implementation of Community Garden Projects: goo.gl/
iAxqUq
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Check out the Victory Gardens: www.
youtube.com/channel/UCg24PurfDGUkD-
CxtBIt1iRw
WHO DO YOU NEED TO START?
Whether you are on city-owned land or not, in order to start a project you will
require a group of engaged and motivated community members and volunteers,
and support from the community. Think about approaching people in your
community that might have experience or expertise that will come in handy.
WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS CAN YOU START?
Community gardens:
One piece of land with
multiple garden plots for
individual gardening.
Community or urban
orchards:
Collective management of a
group of fruit or nut trees.
Pollinator gardens:
Providing natural habitat for
pollinator bees and insects.
Permaculture projects:
Planting food and
plants from a natural
and ecological systems
perspective.
Shared growing:
Growing food together
with others for a variety of
educational, cultural, and
other purposes.
Or a combination of any of
these!
4 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
A site should:
☐Receive full sun exposure for at least 7 hours a day, and optimally 11 hours
(This usually means good southern exposure, so if there are tall
trees or large buildings along the south end of the site you may
want to look elsewhere. However, some crops can be grown in
as little as 3 or 4 hours of sun. If you can, observe the site in the
morning and afternoon to determine whether or not it receives
adequate sunlight. Remember, deciduous trees viewed in the
winter will create more shade come spring when their leaves
emerge.)
☐Be on underutilised land (ex: empty paved areas, areas taken over by invasive
plants).
☐Be on land clear of utility and sewer lines. This can
be researched using the VanMap Tool vancouver.
ca/vanmap and verified with City staff by emailing
communitygardens@vancouver.ca
☐If located on Park land: Be situated so it does not block desirable views within
the park and from neighbouring homes.
at least 7 hours a day
WHAT DOES AN IDEAL SITE LOOK LIKE?
Depending on the type of urban agriculture project you hope to initiate, conditions
and requirements will be different. However, following are some general
standards.
CHOOSINGA SITE
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 5
at least 7 hours a day
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FOR SITE ASSESSMENT:
Ӳ Growing Community Gardens:
A Guide to Farming Food in
Vancouver: goo.gl/pSUWQz
Ӳ The Plot Thickens: Developing
Community Gardens, Part 2:
Location and Design: goo.gl/
eDlYy9
Contact City staff at
foodpolicy@vancouver.
ca to discuss a specific
site’s appropriateness
for urban food growing.
Other important considerations:
Ӳ Existing conditions: What are the site characteristics? The slope, existing trees
and vegetation, shading, and accessibility to the site should match the project
needs.
Ӳ Water source: Is the proposed site close to a potable water source? Sites nearby
water fountains & washroom facilities can make it more feasible to install a
garden’s water access.
Ӳ Buffer: Is there enough of a buffer between adjacent uses? Distance from sports
fields and dog parks can reduce the possibility of conflict.
Ӳ Size: Is the site the appropriate size for the needs of the project? Storage and
composting structures will require space and appropriate siting in the proposed
area.
Ӳ Soil quality: What is the history of the site? Is the site located on previously
contaminated land? (salt, lead, car exhaust, industrial and other waste)
Ӳ Geographic distribution: Are there other urban agriculture projects nearby?
Where are the areas of the city that do not have access to food or other garden
projects?
Ӳ Site context and connections: Are there possibilities to connect to a community
kitchen, food serving organization, or an educational facility? How does the garden
relate to the context of the site (What’s around it)? How can the garden design
and programing include and address issues of access, inclusion and diversity of
underrepresented groups?
Ӳ Materials: Are there possibilities to reuse material from projects or
operations nearby?
Ӳ Microclimate: Are there any prevailing winds or microclimate
that might interfere with the urban agriculture project? If
so, is there a way to mitigate it?
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 7
CITY-OWNED LAND
PROCESS MAP | 8
1. DECIDE TO START AN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT | 10
2. SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST | 11
3. DEVELOP AND REFINE THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN | 14
4. SUBMIT A FORMAL GARDEN APPLICATION | 15
5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION | 16
6. SECURE FUNDS FOR START-UP | 16
7. PURCHASE INSURANCE | 17
8. ENTER INTO A LICENSING AGREEMENT | 17
9. CONSTRUCTION | 18
10. ONGOING PROCESS | 18
2.
SUBMIT AN
EXPRESSION OF
INTERESTS
3.
DEVELOP AND
REFINE THE
CONCEPTUAL PLAN
4.
SUBMIT A
FORMAL GARDEN
APPLICATION
Depending on reasons for rejection it might be possible to revise and resubmit the project.
See page 13 for possible reasons.
ACCEPTED
ACCEPTED
PUBLIC SUPPORTSite in Park
PARK BOARD
REVIEW
SECONDARY
REVIEW
INITIAL
REVIEW
5.
PUBLIC
CONSULTATION
1.
DECIDE TO
START AN URBAN
AGRICULTURE
PROJECT
REJECTED
LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT
PROCESS MAPCITY OWNED LAND
REVISION REQUESTED
REVISION REQUESTED
PUBLIC SUPPORTSite in Non-Park City Land
8
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 9
PARK BOARD
REVIEW
SITE
PREP.
8.
ENTER INTO
A LICENSING
AGREEMENT
6.
SECURE FUNDS FOR
START-UP
9.
CONSTRUCTION
10.
ONGOING
OPERATIONS
7.
PURCHASE
INSURANCE
FINAL
APPROVAL
ACCEPTED
ACCEPTED
REVISION REQUESTED
PUBLIC SUPPORTSite in Non-Park City Land
☐Identify site
☐Organize a group
of engaged
and motivated
community members
☐Form a committee
☐Gather community
Support
☐Contact the City
☐Obtain non-for profit
status (team up
with a not-for-profit
agency)
☐Review guidelines
☐Research funding
options
1.
DECIDE
TO START
AN URBAN
AGRICULTURE
PROJECT
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
☐Group of engaged and motivated community members
Projects like these require a lot of hard work and commitment. If you would like
to start an urban agriculture project in your area, engage other interested parties.
You can try posting fliers in your local community center, contacting a non-for
profit organization in the area or chatting up neighbours on the street. Once
enough interest is shown, organize a gathering of interested parties to discuss the
intent, vision and objectives of the project (see page 3 for tips).
☐Broad community support and benefits
Urban agriculture can provide opportunities to build community, promote health
and well-being, and other benefits beyond the growing of food. Proposals that
articulate the community benefits and demonstrate efforts to engage community
support are much more likely to be considered.
All proposals must demonstrate the garden will be accessible to the public at all
times, and should benefit the surrounding community by:
Ӳ Growing edible and ornamental plants for the personal and shared enjoyment
of garden members;
Ӳ Growing food for the members’ benefit through skill and capacity
development, education, arts and culture programming;
Ӳ Enhancing the local ecosystem with native and pollinator plants that support
the local food system and wildlife habitat
Ӳ Growing food to donate to charitable causes
☐Non-profit status
The City of Vancouver and the Park Board require that urban agriculture initiatives
be administered by a non-profit society according to a licensing agreement which
will specify the terms of use, management responsibilities, physical consider-
ations, among other provisions.
☐Site (appropriate location)
When identifying locations for urban agriculture projects, applicants must
consider all potential publicly and privately owned sites. With more people
moving into the city, it is important for new urban agriculture initiatives be
considered in balance with ensuring residential access to open park spaces.
Applicants must adequately articulate why the specified park site is more
suitable relative to other sites and demonstrate how the proposed project will be
integrated into the existing surrounding.
So you found a site on
city-owned land
10
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 11
☐Other relevant policies and guidelines:
Ӳ Hobby Beekeeping vancouver.ca/people-programs/beekeeping.aspx
Ӳ Design Guidelines And Planning Resources vancouver.ca/people-programs/
community-garden-resources.aspx
Before continuing, ensure that you have approached a non-profit society that is willing
to sponsor the project.
If you have questions or are unsure if your initiative qualifies, direct your inquiries to:
communitygardens@vancouver.ca.
Complete Application
Form:
☐Select an appropriate
location
☐Describe your
organization and your
interest in developing
a new urban
agriculture project.
☐Outline how the local
community will be
involved.
☐Create a Project
Construction Plan
☐Create a Governance
and Maintenance Plan
☐Design the
programming of
the space (consider
engaging a designer)
2.
SUBMIT AN
EXPRESSION
OF INTEREST
(E.O.I.)
BEFORE STARTING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (E.O.I.)
Before Starting an Expression of Interest, identify a potential site in your preferred
neighbourhood. The online VanMap Tool vancouver.ca/vanmap can help identify
property lines and exact addresses. Once you’ve identified a site, review the following
documents:
SITE IN PARK:
☐The Park Board’s Urban Agriculture
Policy: http://vancouver.ca/people-
programs/urban-agriculture-policy.
aspx
SITE IN NON-PARK CITY LAND
☐The City’s Operational Guidelines
For Community Gardens On
City Land Other Than City
Parks: vancouver.ca/files/cov/
CommunityGardensGuidelines.pdf
IDENTIFY SITE
12 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
CHOOSING A SITE
Provide a description of the proposed location. Consult page 4 and 5 for tips.
Where is your project located? Is the proposed project for the entire site or a portion
of it? Include a street address or a nearby address for reference as well as an air photo
with the site marked. (You can use GoogleMaps and VanMaps to do this). Feel free
to include photos of the site itself. This can sometimes be a very frustrating process
especially if your proposal gets rejected based on site selection. Make sure to consult
with City and Park Board staff and current caretakers of the site, they will likely have
great insight into which sites are most suitable.
DESCRIBE YOUR ORGANIZATION
This is your chance to brag about the organization you’re partnering with, make sure
to include things like organizational capacity and any relevant experience you may
have with urban agriculture and community development process. Also include the
motivation behind your interest in developing a new Urban Agriculture Project.
OUTLINE HOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WILL BE INVOLVED
Please describe how the project will address access, inclusion and diversity of un-
der-represented groups. Include any partnerships or support from other organizations
or businesses and/or funding in place.
CREATE A GOVERNANCE AND MAINTENANCE PLAN
Think about the project timeline. Will everything be built at once or will it be built in
stages? Who will be constructing the project? How much labour will be required?
What materials are needed? Will materials be donated or purchased? What is your
estimated budget?
CREATE A PROJECT CONSTRUCTION PLAN
What is your plan for long-term management and maintenance of the project? How
will the project provide opportunities for education and/or skill-building? How will the
project be used and maintained in the winter months?
DESIGN THE PROGRAMMING OF THE SPACE
The EOI requires that you attach a rough sketch indicating how the project relates to
surrounding property lines, streets, sidewalks, etc. It should also show the locations
and the different elements of the project. See section X for what to include in your
siteplan as well as a guide of things to consider when designing your site.
COMPLETE AND SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
Once you’ve reviewed the documentation, selected a site and indentified a willing
non-profit organization, fill out an Expression of Interest (EOI) application. The Online
Form can be accessed at vancouver.ca/people-programs/start-a-new-communi-
ty-garden.aspx
If you have any questions while completing the Expression of interest, please contact
foodpolicy@vancouver.ca, 604.873.7764.
Once completed, submit to: communitygardens@vancouver.ca
fill out the form online at
vancouver.ca/people-
programs/start-a-
new-community-
garden.aspx
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 13
POTENTIAL REASONS WHY A PROPOSAL MAY NOT BE APPROVED
LIMITED CAPACITY OF GARDEN GROUP – Establishing
and operating a community garden requires a great deal
of commitment, time, and resources. Proposals that
inadequately demonstrate the organizational capacity of the
garden group, or have no sponsoring non-profit society in
place, will be at a disadvantage.
LACK OF DEMONSTRATED NEED – Food growing proposals
that do not seem to address a particular need or express
a community desire are unlikely to be prioritized. Unclear
project objectives and lack of connections with other neigh-
bourhood groups and organizations (e.g. ties to schools)
can hinder a proposal’s prospects. The project may be
considered in future rounds if applicants resolve these gaps.
LACK OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT – If the consultation
process (Step 5) indicates inadequate support from
community members, neighbours or park users, the project
will not be approved. We encourage garden supporters to
connect with neighbours and address concerns that are
brought forth.
LIMITED RESOURCES – The City and the Park Board have a
limited budget allocated to develop urban agriculture sites
and often must choose between a number of proposals.
Although the proposal may be an excellent candidate, other
sites may be prioritized ahead especially in areas lacking
community gardening space. In these cases, proposals will
be considered in future rounds.
ANTICIPATED CHANGES – From time to time, Park and City
owned land undergo planning or redesign processes, which
can take several years to complete. The space might already
be slated for another use. In these cases, applicants are
encouraged to look for other more suitable sites.
If in Park lands:
NEARBY PARK USES – Park spaces serve a number of
different functions, and are valued by residents for both
active recreation (sports fields, etc.) and passive recreation
(open green space). Proposals inappropriately sited on
or near these spaces may not be approved for a variety of
reasons
1.
SUBMIT AN
EXPRESSION OF
INTERESTS
INITIAL
REVIEW0.
DECIDE TO
START AN URBAN
AGRICULTURE
PROJECT
REJECTED ACCEPTED
City and Park Board staff
will review proposal for
site appropriateness and
project concept.
3.
DEVELOP AND
REFINE THE
CONCEPTUAL
PLAN
Successful candidates will enter the next
stage of project development and work
with City and Park Board staff to deter-
mine the exact location of the garden site,
develop the conceptual design, and ac-
quire necessary internal approvals. This is
a continuous process, be open and flexible
with your design ideas; making changes
based on feedback from the City and Park
staff is a part of the process.
See Designer’s Manual on page 21 for great information on how to develop a site plan
as well as best accessibility, safety and ecology standards, guidelines and practices.
☐Work with City and
Park Board staff
to determine the
exact location of the
garden site
☐Develop the
conceptual design
☐Incorporate any
requirements from
City and Park Board
staff
So you’ve been approved!
14
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 15
City or Park Board staff will contact successful applicants and work with them to
complete a formal garden application.
The Garden group will be asked to submit a formal proposal to City or Park Board
staff, which includes:
☐Project Description that identifies and articulates: the sponsoring
organization, its mandate, the main project leads, experience in community
organizing and/or urban agriculture, project goals, community involvement,
and the how the garden will function.
☐Financial Plans outlining how the project will be funded and continue to
function in the upcoming years. What funding is available? Are there any
grants or sponsorships? How much revenue is coming from membership fees?
☐Project Plan which outlines how the project will be constructed and
maintained. How are volunteers co-ordinated? Who carries out construction?
Who will purchase and deliver materials? Do you have expertise available?
☐Garden Design done with technical support of City or Park Board staff
that clearly identifies the site, the layout and sizes of plots, and location of
structures, fences, furnishings, and composters. (Refine conceptual plan from
EOI with the input from the staff)
☐Documentation from the Non-Profit Society of its incorporation, as well as any
other letters of support from residents and organizations that demonstrate
commitment and support for the garden proposal.
The proposals will be assessed based on: i) their ability to meet urban agriculture
project objectives; and ii) level of community support.
Complete Application
Form:
☐Project Description
☐Financial Plan
☐Project Plan
☐Garden Design
☐Documentation
from the Non-Profit
Society & letters
of support from
residents and organi-
zations
Resubmit Application
form if needed:
☐Submit final garden
design incorporating
changes based on the
consultation and staff
and Board input.
4.
SUBMIT A
FORMAL
GARDEN
APPLICATION
☐Circulate notice
to residents and
organizations within
a two block radius of
the site
☐Post signage in the
proposed location
5.
PUBLIC
CONSULTATION
Before City or Park Board staff can begin work at the garden site, the society
must demonstrate that it has secured sufficient funding for garden construction
materials.
Depending on the size and type/ context of your project, a public consultation
may be required. The City or Park Board staff will conduct a public consultation in
conjunction with the non-profit to gauge community support.
The organisation is responsible for helping with the public consultation and
submitting a final garden design incorporating changes based on the consultation.
☐Secure sufficient
funding for garden
construction and
materials
6.
SECURE
FUNDS FOR
START-UP
ADDITIONAL TIPS ON SECURING FUNDING AND ESTIMATING COSTS:
Ӳ Growing Gardens: A Resource Package on How to Start Your Own Community Garden: issuu.
com/anjuli.solanki/docs/growing-gardens-manual
16
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 17
Upon approval, the non-profit organisation will enter into a license agreement
with the City or Park Board, which specifies the timeframe for the agreement
(usually 5 years), terms of use, management responsibilities, and procedures for
the garden’s operation. License fee of $1 per year will be invoiced to society.
7.
PURCHASE
INSURANCE
8.
ENTER INTO
A LICENSING
AGREEMENT
☐Enter into a license
agreement with the
City or Park Board
The garden is required to be covered with $2 million in commercial general liability
insurance at all times, and will be asked to provide proof of insurance on an annual
basis.
☐Provide proof of
insurance on an
annual basis ($2
million in commercial
general liability)
Gardens will be maintained at no ongoing cost to the City or Park Board, with the
exception of providing an ongoing water supply.
The City or Park Board can choose to renew the license agreement for another
five-year term, pending a review that considers the garden in good standing.
Any changes made to the initial, approved garden design or user fees would
require prior approval from Park Board staff.
Ӳ No chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are to be used in Park
gardens (COV’s Pesticide Use Restriction By-Law)
Ӳ It is expected that all urban agriculture projects will be a positive asset to the
neighbourhood, and be good neighbours.
With the license agreement in place, Park Board or City staff will prepare the site.
This typically includes: removal of grass and unwanted vegetation; first year of soil
and compost; and installation of a water source.
Once the staff has completed site preparation, the non-profit organization will
be given permission in writing to occupy the site and begin construction of the
garden in accordance with the approved plan.
☐Begin construction
of the garden in
accordance with the
approved plan
9.
CONSTRUCTION
☐Maintain at no
ongoing cost to the
City or Park Board,
with the exception of
providing an ongoing
water supply.
10.
ONGOING
OPERATIONS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ How to Build a Raised Planting Bed: thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/overview/0,,1615067,00.html
18
Food plays a really important role
in making our communities more livable, sustainable, vibrant
and dynamic places.” “
Sadhu Johnston
Deputy City manager
19
20 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 21
DESIGNER’S MANUAL
OVERVIEW | 22
1. CONTEXT AND CONNECTIONS | 24
2. LAYOUT | 28
3. PLANTING DESIGN AND MATERIALS | 34
ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION | 35
SAFETY AND VISIBILITY | 37
SENSORY GARDEN | 38
ECOLOGICAL HEALTH | 41
RECOMMENDED EDIBLE PLANTS FOR VANCOUVER | 44
22 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
HOW TO DESIGN
Your vision and objectives will greatly influence the physical design of your Urban
Agriculture Project. Keep your goals in mind while you go through the design process
and periodically re-read your objectives to make sure that the design adheres to your
original vision.
Designing the project requires looking at it from different levels of detail. Start with
the most broad and slowly work your way to more detail. Be patient, great designs
take time; the time you put in at the beginning creating a logical and beautiful layout
can save a lot of headache down the road. Keep an open mind, while you might be
struck with a brilliant idea at the very beginning, don’t be afraid to experiment and
incorporate feedback from the City staff.
Consider:
When designing gardens consider the
context of the site and how it can relate
to its surroundings, the overall layout
and how elements relate together and
details that make the whole design come
together.
1 .context 2. layout 3. detail
DESIGNINGA SITE
NEED HELP WITH THE DESIGN?
Consult with the City and Park Board staff, call
604.873.7764 or email foodpolicy@vancouver.ca.
You might also want to contact:
Ӳ City Studio Vancouver, an innovation hub where
staff, university students and community members
co-create, design and launch projects on the ground.
citystudiovancouver.com
Ӳ Community Studio which brings together landscape
architects, planners, architects, and engineers to
provide design and planning services for non-profit
community-based projects. communitystudio.org
Ӳ Projects in Place which brings design and construction
professionals together with the general public, using
a collaborative model to create and implement
innovative projects that benefit the community and
demonstrate sustainability. projectsinplace.org
The following organizations train students and might be
interested in getting involved.
Ӳ SALA: School of Architecture and Landscape
Architecture, sala.ubc.ca/about/contact
Ӳ UBC Garden Design Certificate: cstudies.ubc.ca/
programs/garden-design-certificate
Ӳ BCIT: School of Construction and the Environment:
bcit.ca/construction
It is these efforts – to bring healthy food
back into the city, to connect people with
the land, to restore dignity of those in need –
that offer us models for reinventing our
urban communities.”
Emily MacNair
Seeds of Success, 2002
“
23
24 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
The first step, once a site has been selected, is to
survey it more closely. Think about its constraints and
opportunities. Make lists of possible social and physical
connections and possible programming (dependent on
your mission).
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Ӳ How will the site connect to the adjacent community?
Ӳ Are there possible physical or social connections that
can be made?
Ӳ Where are the entrances? How will the pathways in the
garden connect to the pathways around it?
Ӳ Are there any restrictions due to the location of the
site?
Ӳ Does the location of the site create restrictions on the
programming? If so what are they?
Ӳ Pathways, possible connections, restrictions, accessi-
bility, drop-off & short-term storage
1.
CONTEXT AND CONNECTIONS
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 25
MEASURE YOUR SITE
Ӳ Think about what can and will fit. (See page 29 for typical plot sizes)
Ӳ Do a general area calculation to gain understanding of the size of your site
and to gauge the types of programming it could include.
EXISTING TREES
Ӳ Try to design around healthy, existing trees. Note their location, they could be
extremely useful in providing much needed shade in the garden.
SLOPE AND DRAINAGE
Ӳ Examine the topography of your site. Identify areas of poor drainage (ie.
where does all the water pool?)
Ӳ Consider different ways you could deal with the drainage. Is there a lot of
flooding in one area? Could you plant it with water tolerant plants. Could you
solve the problem with minimal changes to the topography?
IDENTIFY ENTRANCES, EXITS AND POSSIBLE PEDESTRIAN FLOWS
Locate potential or existing access points to your project from the street or other
public paths. Think about how they connect to transit stops and community
amenities. How accessible are the entrances to the general public? Consider
possible pedestrian flows and how people could move through the site.
CO-LOCATING WITH OTHER AMENITIES
The design of garden plot areas should encourage social interaction by balancing
a variety of different uses in the common outdoor amenity space. Consideration
should be given to co-locating with:
☐a covered outdoor space for shelter
☐an outdoor children’s play area
☐an indoor amenity room with kitchen, washroom and an eating area
☐outdoor seating areas for rest and social interaction
☐non-profit organization
In the case of gardens built on city-owned,
non-park land, two (2) plots of average size are
to be designated for one of the following:
a) a local non-profit,
b) a neighbouring childcare center, or
c) a common area for food grown for charitable
purposes.
POSSIBLE PROGRAMMING
☐children’s garden
☐wheelchair accessible garden
☐sensory garden
☐communal herb beds
☐seating space
☐shaded area for rest
☐educational area
☐rain barrels
☐rain garden
☐pollinator garden
☐beehive
☐edible shrubs
☐art space
☐community bulletin board
☐water fountain
☐bike parking
☐other
COMMUNITY GATHERING
Urban agriculture projects should be inviting spaces for the enjoyment of garden
and park users alike. Harvest tables for gardeners to eat and celebrate food can
also serve to facilitate other community activities. Shaded seating in resting areas
and play areas for children can also be beneficial for garden users.
PROVIDING A TRANSITION ZONE
A buffer or transition zone between the urban agriculture project and surrounding
uses will help integrate the project into the community and offer some protection
from noise, through traffic and theft. In the case of projects on city-owned land,
an ornamental perimeter garden must be provided between the community
garden and the adjacent lands and street to create an attractive buffer with the
neighbourhood. Fences are permitted around larger community gardens and may
not be more than one meter high.
ADDITIONAL TIPS ON INTEGRATING
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Ӳ Inclusive Community Gardens: Planning
for Inclusive and Welcoming Spaces in
Vancouver: goo.gl/q3EvJs
26
“A sustainable food
systems is essential
to nourishing a healthy city.”
Vancouver’s Food Strategy
City of Vancouver
27
28 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
Once you’ve identified the constraints and
opportunities of your site and chosen how it will
relate to its context (socially and physically) it’s time to
start designing! Start by drawing bubbles of where your
programming could go. Consider the pros and cons of
different iterations and spatial organizations.
Once you have a brief outline of the general layout, you
can start putting in some of the details.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Ӳ How do people move about the garden? How do they
enter and exit? Where are the high and low traffic
paths?
Ӳ Where are the rest areas? Are they shaded?
Ӳ Is the site visible from outside?
Ӳ Who does the site cater to? Are there any special con-
siderations for accessibility?
Ӳ How many and what type of plots will be in the
garden?
2.
LAYOUT
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 29
ORIENTATION TOWARD THE SUN
Avoid planting in areas north of tall buildings or trees, these areas will be in the
shade most of the day.
Planting tip: Orient rows of planting in the N/S direction to maximize sun
exposure.
HOW DO PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH THE SPACE?
Another important factor to keep in mind when designing spaces is the circulation
of the space: how people move through it. Think of your circulation as something
that eases movement in the project. Some paths are high traffic while others are
less used. This will influence the width of the paths and the type of material used.
Generally, main paths need to be accessible (152 cm: 5’), so the use of compacted
crushed concrete is encouraged, secondary paths (91 cm: 3’) can use less invasive
material such as mulch.
In your site plan make sure you differentiate between main paths, secondary paths
and in some cases tertiary paths using a different thickness or colour.
RAISED GARDEN PLOTS
Raised garden plots should be integrated into the overall landscape design
and could be accommodated in flexible, non-rectilinear forms. When designing
complex garden beds, ensure that you have the expertise to construct them on
your team. Large, undivided planting areas equal in square footage to individually
separated plots may be provided in cases where individual plots are not desired or
suitable.
For maximum growing potential garden plots should be a minimum of 2.2 m2
(24ft2), ideally 92 cm (3’) by 244 cm (8’), not including plot dividers. There should
be a maximum reach of 46 cm (18”) from the perimeter to the middle of the plot.
Soil depth should be a minimum of 46 cm (18”) and should be made up of soil
appropriate for growing a variety of food plants.
Planters should be a maximum of 61 cm (2’) high for easy reaching, however, this
can differ (see page 35 and 36) based on who the planters are intended for. The
path between plots can vary from 61 cm (2’) between regular plots to 152 cm (5’)
between accessible plots.
soil depth46 cm
ideal length 244 cm
ideal width 92 cm
optimal area 2.2 m2
(24ft2)
ideal dimensions 92 cm x 244cm
(3’ x 8’)
maximum reach into plot 46 cm (18”)
soil depth 46 cm (18”)
Toxic materials, such as pressure treated
wood, should not be used where they
will come into contact with soils that are
growing food.
Maximum reach 46 cm
Types of garden plot layouts
Expert
• more efficient use of
space and materials
Conventional• easier to build• higher definition
between plots
30 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON
COMPOSTING:
Ӳ The Essentials of Composting: dummies.
com/how-to/content/the-essen-
tials-of-composting.html
Ӳ DIY Compost Bins You Can Build in One
Day: treehugger.com/lawn-garden/4-diy-
compost-bins-you-can-build-one-day-
video.html
MATERIALS DROP-OFF AND SHORT-TERM STORAGE
From time to time, the project may require large volumes of inputs, like soil and
bark mulch. Ensure an area is designed to be accessible for these materials to be
dropped off and stored when needed. Consider growing plants in pots that can
be temporarily moved to make room for shipments.
SUPPORTING FACILITIES
In order to function smoothly, projects require supporting facilities.
A large 3 bins system is often used in
community gardens. For a great display
of all the different composter options,
visit the City Farmer Demonstration
Garden at 2150 Maple St. in Vancouver
or give them a call (604) 736-2250
VANCOUVER CITY HALL GARDEN
☐Provide hose bibs
within 6 meters (20 ft)
of any garden plot.
☐Provide a storage
room or shed for tools;
consideration should
be given to providing
smaller, personal
storage for individual
gardening tools.
☐Provide a composting
facility that is ro-
dent-resistant,
provides the ability to
turn compost, and is of
sufficient size to match
garden capacity.
☐a potting bench,
☐an electrical outlet,
☐area lighting,
☐a greenhouse, of
minimum 9 x 12 feet,
(not allowed on
city-owned non-park
land)
COMPOST BINS
Sheds and compost bins are very useful in garden operations. Locate these
structures within the garden site where they will not interfere with the adjacent
uses.
Locate the compost on an accessible path, wide enough for wheelbarrows. In
a large garden, have a couple of different spots for compost to minimize travel
time for gardeners. This will make the garden more tidy and ultimately help in
preventing pests.
Consider providing:
31
CREATING A PLAN
When Submitting a Plan for
Approval Label:
Ӳ North Arrow and Scale
Ӳ General context of the site
(street names)- feel free to
overlay map over satellite
image.
Ӳ Label adjacent uses
Mark Location of:
☐tool storage
☐compost
☐existing water access or
possible locations
Outline:
Ӳ rough number and size of
beds
Differentiate Between:
Ӳ main paths
Ӳ secondary paths
Ӳ tertiary paths (optional)
Scale: 1 square = 1 meter
# of meters or feet
#
o
f
m
e
t
e
r
s
o
r
f
e
e
t
potting bench
accessible plots
communal herb bedsand pollinator garden
mulch
social and art
space
orchard
existing trees
community house
with community kitchen
compost
JOHN AVE.
SMITH ST.
buffer
pr
i
v
a
t
e
p
r
o
p
e
r
t
y
rain garden accessible central path: at least 152 cm
water access
tools storage
secondary p a th: at le a st 91 cm
accessible central path: at least 152 cm
N
regular plots
children’s garden
tertiary path: at least 61 cm
temporary
storage space
existing trees
32 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
fence
semi-permeable
tree boundary
thick shrub
groundcover deterrent
personal
plots
berry shrubs
public
orchard
community
herb garden
children’s
garden
DEFINING BOUNDARIES WITH
VEGETATION AND FENCES
In order to prevent theft and create
a feeling of safety and enclosure it is
important to define the space. There
are many different tools that can
be employed to do this from short
permeable fences to hardy shrubs and
extensive groundcover or flowerbeds.
VARIOUS TYPES OF FOOD
GROWING
Offering a wide variety of edible plants
and various ownership/ caretaker
models will help diversify the garden
and make it more inclusive to the
general public, as well as more resilient
and productive.
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 33
community house
with kitchensocial and art space
public orchardpollinator plants
rain garden
children’s garden
PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
An extremely important aspect
of an urban agriculture projects
is community involvement and
engagement. Encourage more public
interaction by including many forms of
social programming in your project.
water access
tool storage
potting bench
compost
rainwater
retention swale
materials drop-off and
short term storage
washrooms
SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Don’t forget to think about all the
amenities needed to make your
project successful!
34 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
You’ve outlined the programming of the space and
layed out your plan, now its time to fill in the details.
Think about the ecology of your site, how your site caters
to different people and what you can do to make it a
pleasant, interesting and safe space to be in.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Ӳ Where will the materials come from? Is there
possibility to recycle materials from nearby sources?
Ӳ Which materials are safe to be used in conjunction
with growing?
Ӳ Does the garden offer habitat for pollinators, native
birds, other important species?
Ӳ Does the garden conserve water?
Ӳ Who is the garden accessible for?
3.
PLANTING DESIGN AND MATERIALS
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 35
Urban agriculture projects on city land should be inclusive,
inviting spaces that foster community. Designing some of
the pathways, garden beds, and activity areas to wheelchair
accessible standards but also considering other types of
physical limitations will encourage broader community
involvement and create an inclusive space for all.
Before starting, think about who you are designing for:
Ӳ Are there members of the community that require
special design considerations?
Ӳ How can you make the space inclusive to all members
of your community?
Ӳ Who will be able to use this space?
Ӳ How will people get to the garden from a bus stop or
adjacent buildings?
PATHWAYS: All primary pathways should be level, firm,
slip-free with traction and wide enough to turn a wheelchair
around (min 152 cm: 5’).
possible materials: paved or decomposed granite, packed
crushed stone/gravel
width 152 cm (60”)
slope 2.5 %
slope over short distance 8 %
gates and entrance width 90 cm (35”)
two-way passage: 180 cm
typical max. slope
over long distance2.5%
max. slope over
short distance8%
pathway 152 cm
gate or entrance90 cm - 180 cm
wheel chair height 61 cm (24”)
gardeners unable to bend height 75 cm (30”)
maximum reach into plot 46 cm (18”)
ledge width (possible at different
heights to accommodate for sitting,
kneeling or leaning)
20 - 46 cm
(8” - 18”)
soil depth 46 cm (18”)
wheel chair height 89 - 94cm
bending height75cm
soil depth 46 cm
ledge width20 - 46 cm RAISED BEDS: Beds can be different heights depending on
who they are accommodating,
possible material: a variety of material like cement blocks,
wood or stone, or can be purchased prefabricated.
ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION
36 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
OTHER ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
WATER SPIGOT: Install brightly
coloured, highly visible hand
levers and snap connectors at
an accessible height of 61-92 cm.
Locate taps frequently throughout
the garden (within 20’ of each plot
) so gardener’s don’t need to carry
heavy and long hoses. The Park
Board staff will install the bibs on
projects located on park land.
TOOLS: There are commercially
available tools that make gardening
easier for persons with limited
mobility.
SENSORY GARDEN: Sensory
gardens cater to providing an
enjoyable experience for all
the senses. They are especially
important for people with sensory,
cognitive or developmental
disabilities (impairments) but they
greatly enhance the experience of
every visitor. Read more on page 38.
SIGNS: Consider people with visual
impairments when designing signs
to go in the garden.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Barrier-Free Community Gardening in
Waterloo Region: goo.gl/14bSws
Ӳ Background and Details, Accessible
Community Garden Guidelines 2011:
vancouver.ca/files/cov/Community-Gar-
dens-Accessibility-Guidelines-2011.pdf
SEATING
Ample shaded seating is also a great way to make a garden more accessible. It is
recommended that seating is located in a shaded area, that provides protection
from the sun in the hottest parts of the day between 11am- 4pm.
height 89 - 94 cm
(35” - 37”)
maximum reach into plot 46 cm (18”)
knee clearance 69 - 76 cm (27”
- 30”)
soil depth 21 - 26 cm
(8” - 10”)
spigot height61 - 92 cm
knee clearance69 -76 cm
box depth21 -26 cm
width92 cm
TABLE/ RAISED CONTAINER PLANTERS: Table planters are high enough to
use as raised beds and accessible for use with a wheelchair.
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 37
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ The Community Garden Handbook for
Newfoundland and Labrador, Appendix R:
Theft and Vandalism: goo.gl/hhlV6G
Unfortunately, vandalism and theft is sometimes
inevitable; there are however, some ways to deter it
through good environmental (physical) design and
through community engagement.
Consider:
Ӳ Is the project visible by passerby’s?
Ӳ Are there any windows directly overlooking the site?
Ӳ Have you hosted public events to encourage
community participation and ownership of the
project?
SIGHTLINES
Where possible, ensure that the garden is visible from the street and surrounding
community, and overlooked by housing with active frontage.
ENTRANCES
Make the area around the main entranceway clearly distinguishable from public
walkways leading to it so that users feel that they are entering an area controlled
by the users. Orient entry to provide natural surveillance.
LIGHTING
Using motion activated lights is a good
way to light the area at night and alert
surrounding neighbours (capable
guardians) when there is motion in the
garden at night.
SIGNANGE
Provide signage that is visible, concise
and easily maintained.
FENCING
Low and permeable fencing maintains high visibility while signaling that the
garden is a special place with separate rules. Fences are permitted around larger
community gardens however, they may not be more than one meter high.
LANDSCAPING
Use spatial boundaries/borders to reinforce the perimeters of defined areas and
direct flow through your garden. These can take shape in various different ways
from perennial ground covers to tough or prickly shrubs to prevent short-cuts
across. Carefully balance the advantages of thorny shrubs as access deterrents
against the disadvantages or poor appearance of litter trapped in shrubbery.
AVOIDING VANDALISM
Greenscreens and wall planting reduce opportunities for graffiti and vandalism,
and contribute to aesthetics. Directly involving youth in urban agriculture projects
also helps reduce instances of vandalism and theft.
SAFETY AND VISIBILITY
Make sure to keep
the area tidy, a
well-managed site
is harder to steal
from because the
crime is obvious.
38 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
Sensory gardens are spaces for healing, learning and
enjoying. They are instrumental in engaging and involving
all members of the community. They provide opportuni-
ties for learning and skill development for children and
adults alike, and offer much needed refuge from the harsh
and often dull, concrete city environment.
While they are especially important for people with
sensory, cognitive or developmental disabilities, they
greatly enhance the experience of every visitor.
Following are some tips to enhance the sensory
experience of your urban agriculture project.
VISUAL
We are more consciously dependent on our sense of sight, than any of the other
senses, to explore and experience the world around us. What we see, the visual
quality of a space, greatly influences our experience of a place, our emotional
reaction and in turn our behavioural response. Making a visual appealing
space therefore, is of utmost importance when creating public space such as a
community garden.
COLOUR
Colour adds delight to any scene. Experimenting with colour using plants adds
another dimension to space as most plants change colours depending on season.
You can add colour using flowers, leaves, bark, berries, lichens, mosses as well as
the non-organic elements such as path and wall surfaces.
Play with:
Ӳ creating contrast: Visual contrast is valuable for people with visual impairments,
not only for enjoyment but also for wayfinding. Create contrast between paths
and edging. Make the furniture, rest places, signange and obstacles more
visible by painting them a contrasting colour from their surroundings.
Example: bright yellow edge of a path, dark leaved shrub behind delicate
white flowers
Ӳ splash of colour: Add dramatic effect using swathes of colour
Example: bright orange marigolds in a border (Marigolds are also a natural
pest repellent and used as a part of integrated pest management in countries
all over the world!)
Ӳ colour schemes: Create ambiance through coordinating colour; warm colours
are associated with energy, while cooler colours are more calming.
Ӳ materials: Consider adding colour through the materials you use.
PATTERN AND SHAPE
Including different patterns and shapes in gardens can aid in early child
development. Interesting patterns can be achieved through things like paving,
fencing, brick work, trees with different shaped leaves and bark; the possibilities
are endless.
energetic calming
tip: Invite a local artists, or
school to contribute to your
project.
ENGAGING ALL THE SENSES
What we
perceive
with our
eyes greatly
influences our
experience of
a place.
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 39
MOVEMENT
Movement can spark and sustain a
visitor’s attention; it can be calming
or stimulating and its effect is greatly
enhanced when combined with sound.
There are many ways to create
movement: trees that move with the wind (trembling aspen, willow, white poplar),
tall grasses, chimes (careful that they’re not too over-powering), water, interactive
or moving sculptures. Locate them in spots where they are likely to get some
breeze or where they are easily activated by visitors.
TOUCH AND PLAY
TOUCH
Tactile learning and exploring helps cultivate creativity, both short term and
through development over time. In addition, the ability to explore through touch
will make the environment much more engaging to those with visual impairments.
Provide ample opportunities for visitors to engage by including:
Ӳ plants with interesting textures: Any botanist will tell you that in order to really
get to know a plant you must touch and feel it. Introducing textures into
your project through plants is easy because plants are inherently extremely
interesting and differ in texture in their flowers, leaves, berries, seeds, bark and
new twigs.
Create a common space where children (and adults) can touch plants and
learn about the purpose behind each texture, for example: waxy leaves
prevent water loss.
Ӳ textures in the fabric of the garden and through temporary materials - Further add
interest through varying the texture of wall surfaces, path surfaces, sculptures,
seats and tables. (To add variety to materials to sit, walk and lie on try using
bark mulch, leaves, straw).
Ӳ water: Water satisfies all the senses, especially touch and sound. Give garden
explorers the chance to dip their hands (and toes?). Stagnant water is
breeding ground for mosquitoes, make sure that the water in your garden
moves or, in the case of ponds, add fish which will eat insect eggs. Moving
water is also more interesting and enables water play, e.g. floating objects.
ORIENTATION, GRAVITY AND BALANCE
Make your garden an experience! Provide space for developing motor skills.
Create interest and mystery by changing the width, direction, branching and
slope of pathways. Provide “landmarks” that visitors can remember and orient
themselves by, as well as logs and platforms that would aid in surveying the area
and develop orientation and balancing skills.
INTERACTION AND PLAY
Sensory gardens should include landscape features that can be manipulated and
rearranged. For example, interactive sculptures, gear wheels, pulleys, balances
and pools or channels of water. These features are also a valuable tool for
teaching cause-and-effect.
PO
S
S
I
B
L
E
T
E
X
T
U
R
E
I
D
E
A
S
rough
smooth
ridged
hairy
bumpy
soft
squidgy
fluffy
prickly
waxy
papery
coarse
others...
PO
S
S
I
B
L
E
M
E
D
I
U
M
S
T
H
A
T
A
D
D
T
E
X
T
U
R
E
twigs
stones
bark
pedals
slate
leaves
grass flowers
seed heads
acrons
mulch
water
grasses
others...
Brainstorm a list of textures and ways to achieve them. This is a great opportunity to get children involved in the design and planning process of the project.
spark and sustain
interest & cultivate
creativity
Provide a safe
haven from busy
and alarming city
noise
40 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
examples of fragrant plants:
Wild ginger | Asarum caudatum
Christmas box | Sarcococca
hookeriana var. humilis
Anise hyssop | Agastache
foeniculum
Mock orange | Philadelphus
lewisii
Nootka Rose | Rosa nutkana
SOUND
Providing a safe haven from the busy and alarming city noise is a much needed
therapeutic function of any urban greenspace. When considering the sound
in your garden, first think about how to dull and drown out the stressful or
unpleasant noises from the surroundings; thick vegetative buffers and cascading
water always help.
Secondly, create opportunities for:
Ӳ natural sounds: While ambient sounds are difficult to replicate, simply
providing space for visitors to slow down and observe the sounds of leaves
rustling in the wind, birds singing, rain drops on metal roofs, etc. can go a long
way.
Ӳ activated sounds: Kinetic sound sculptures and art pieces (such as deer chaser
fountains, musical fences, wind chimes) that are activated by visitors provide
both interaction and auditory stimulus.
SMELL
Engaging the sense of smell can be really therapeutic in an urban agriculture
project. There are different types of scents when it comes to plants:
Ӳ released without touch: These can be
strong and fill the air, or weak and
require you to smell the flowers directly.
Ӳ released when plants are crushed: Place
plants with mildly scented leaves along
the edges of paths; passerby’s will
activate the smells every time they
brush past. Be careful when deciding
where to place plants, some scents can
be overpowering and should be avoided
or placed far away from direct access
and heavily occupied areas.
However, plants are not the only way to create distinctive and interesting smells;
wood shavings, autumn leaves, fresh rain on hot soil and cut grass are other
distinctive smells in a garden.
TASTE
This one should be a given in an urban agriculture project! While much of the
produce of your garden may be for private consumption, include some plants,
shrubs or trees for the community and visitors. Berries are great because they
can be grown on the edges and in buffer zones (they usually grown on hardy
shrubs) and the fruit is small enough to satisfy any craving. This might even aid in
preventing theft from private plots.
SENSORY GARDEN INFORMATION ADAPTED FROM:
Ӳ SensoryTrust.org: sensorytrust.org.uk/information/factsheets/sensory-garden-4.html
Provide a safe
haven from busy
and alarming city
noise
Engaging the
sense of smell
can be really
therapeutic
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 41
BIRDS
Over 250 species of resident, migratory and over-wintering birds are regularly
observed in Metro Vancouver. Providing habitat for birds in Vancouver is
particularly important because the Fraser River delta is a major stop along the
Pacific Flyway —a north-south migratory route traversed by at least a billion birds
every year.
Birds also provide ecosystem services in the form of pest control, pollination and
seed dispersal. Here are some ways to provide habitat in your project:
Ӳ Increase vertical vegetation structure complexity by creating layers: ground
cover, shrub, understory and canopy layers. Provide native understory
Ӳ Provide plants for foraging- mix of coniferous and deciduous vegetation.
Providing foraging options: seeds, fruit, nuts, nectar.
Ӳ Plants with persistent fruits (hold their fruit into winter), attract insects that
birds feed on and include early flowering plants to ensure a reliable supply of
nectar when migratory hummingbirds arrive in spring.
Ӳ Provide nesting boxes in areas of minimized disturbance by humans and
incorporate snags or downed wood.
Ӳ Provide water for birds to drink and bathe. Several species are up to three
times more likely to be present if a water source is nearby
Ӳ Reduce light pollution (use international dark-sky Association Approved
lighting fixtures).
d
e
cre
asing height and shade tolerance
EXAMPLES OF BIRD FRIENDLY PLANTS:
PERSISTANT FRUITS:
Pacific Crabapple | Malus fusca
Evergreen Huckleberry |
Vaccinium ovatum
Highbush Cranberry | Viburnum
trilobum
ATTRACT INSECTS FOR FOOD
Red Alder | Alnus rubra
Pacific Willow | Salix lucida
Scouler’s Willow | Salix
scouleriana
EARLY FLOWERING:
Salmonberry | Rubus spectabilis
Flowering Currant | Ribes
sanguineum
Oregon Grape | Mahonia
aquifolium
HABITAT:
Nootka rose | Rosa nutkana
habitat
The City of Vancouver and the Park Board is committed
to enhancing biodiversity and wildlife habitat. Urban
agriculture initiatives are opportunities to incorporate
habitat for song birds, bees, and other beneficial bugs.
Consider installing mason bee lodges, planting native
shrubs and pollinator gardens as opportunities to educate
and enhance the natural infrastructure for our tiny
residents.
ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Vancouver Bird Strategy: vancouver.
ca/parks-recreation-culture/vancou-
ver-bird-strategy.aspx
42 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
EXAMPLES OF BIRD FRIENDLY PLANTS
Lavender | Lavendula
Rhododendron | Rhododendron
White Clover | Trifolium repens
Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster
Heather | Calluna
Purple Toadflax | Linaria purpurea
California Lilac | Ceanothus
Bachelor’s Button | Centaurea
Bellflower | Campanula
Thyme | Thymus
Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis
Yellow Mustard | Brassica
Sage | Salvia
Escallonia | Escallonia
Cranesbill | Geranium
Aster | Aster
English Daisy | Bellis perennis
Rosemary | Rosmarinus
Mint | Mentha
Oregano | Origanum vulgare
Borage | Borago
Calendula | Calendula
Lily Of The Valley | Peleris
Shrubby Veronica | Hebe
Blackberry/Raspberry | Rubus
(Based on work by Prof. Elizabeth Elle,
Tila Haapalainen and Julie Wray, Simon
Fraser University)
POLLINATORS
Honeybees, butterflies and native bees such as bumble bees are declining
because of urbanisation, intensive agriculture, and pesticides. Gardeners can
help reverse this trend by creating flower-rich gardens that help keep pollinator
populations healthy.
Here are some tips:
Ӳ Include space in your project for an area with pollinator friendly plants. This
area can be communal and used as an educational tool for all the visitors.
You can also encourage gardeners to include more flowering plants in their
individual plots.
Ӳ Choose plants that flower throughout the season (and with long bloom times)
and remember that some native bees rely on native plants.
Ӳ Choose plants with flowers of different shapes, sizes and colour (this attracts
a variety of pollinators). Plant large patches of each kind of flowering plant:
about a square meter of each, if you have the space (don’t forget to be
creative with the layout
Ӳ Buy or build a mason bee box or create nesting sites for native bees; more
than 70% nest in dry soil below ground; so leave open, unmulched areas in
your garden (see resources section for more info). Consider nest sites: bee
condos, places ground nesters can use and plants with hollow stems.
Ӳ Be tolerant of unmowed meadows or shrub thickets in parks which are
important for pollinators.
Ӳ Do not use pesticides in your garden (It’s prohibited and very
detrimental to pollinators).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Vancouver Pollinator Project: vancouver.ca/
parks-recreation-culture/pollinator-proj-
ect.aspx
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 43
BEEHIVES LOCATED IN COMMUNITY GARDENS
Integrating beehives into community gardens is a great way to increase crop
yields, and support and protect bees — a vital part of our ecosystem. When
implementing a beehive in your community garden make sure to adhere to the
following guidelines on city-owned land.
Ӳ A maximum of two beehives per community garden.
Ӳ In order to ensure the appropriate height of honey bee flight path: (a) the
beehive entrance should be directed away from pedestrian pathways; and
(b) the beehive should be located a minimum of 3 meters (10 ft) away from
neighbouring properties and / or children’s play areas.
Ӳ The beehive should be located within a secure enclosure to prevent vandalism.
The enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8 meters (6 ft) in height and made of
material that does not create a visual barrier (i.e., fencing material should be
permeable).
Ӳ A sign should be posted near the beehive that provides contact information of
the beekeeper and / or community garden representative in case of concerns.
Ӳ The beekeeper and community gardeners must work with the Park Board or
the City to gain permission for the project.
INVASIVE PLANTS
The following are invasive plants, do NOT plant in Vancouver:
Butterfly Bush | Buddleja davidii
Common Periwinkle | Vinca minor
English Holly | Ilex aquifolium
English Ivy | Hedera helix var. hibernica
Giant Hogweed | Heracleum mantegazzianum
Himalayan Blackberry | Rubus armeniacus
Knotweeds: Giant, Japanese, Bohemian | Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis and F.
× bohemica
Policeman’s Helmet | Impatiens glandulifera
Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria
Scotch Broom | Cytisus scoparius
Spurge Laurel or Daphne | Daphne laureola
Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Archangel/ Lamium | Lamium galeobdolon
3m away from
neighbouring
properties
1.8
m
e
n
c
l
o
s
u
r
e
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Vancouver Beekeeping: vancouver.ca/
people-programs/beekeeping.aspx
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ӳ Invasive Species of Metro Vancouver:
iscmv.ca/
44 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME OTHER LANDSCAPE VALUE
PE
R
E
N
N
I
A
L
S
&
H
E
R
B
S
Cynara scolymus Globe artichoke Dramatic accent plant in perennial borders and containers.
Interplant with late-flowering perennials to hide foliage when
it dies back
Mentha spicata Spearmint Can be invasive, therefore plant large areas where plants can
controlled by mowing in containers or fill in and be controlled
by mowing.
Origanum marjorana Sweet marjoram In perennial borders, among annual plantings, along edges,
and in containers.
Origanum vulgare Oregano In borders, among annual plantings, along edges, and in
containers
CL
I
M
B
E
R
S
Actinidia arguta Chinease
gooseberry
Climb up trellises, arbours, or fences and cover pergolas or
walls
Actinidia chinensis Common kiwi Climb up trellises, arbours, or fences and cover pergolas or
walls
Vitis labrusca Grape Climb up trellises, arbours, or fences, and cover pergolas or
walls
EV
E
R
G
R
E
E
N
GR
O
U
N
D
-
CO
V
E
R
S
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick Along edges and as barriers
Cornus canadensis Bunchberry Along edges, as barriers, and as understory
Thymus pracecox articus Creeping thyme Along edges and banks, in borders, and between cracks in
pathways and walls
DE
C
I
D
U
O
U
S
GR
O
U
N
D
C
O
V
E
R
S
Fragaria chiloensis Coastal strawberry Along edges and open sites near ocean
Fragaria vesca Woodland
strawberry
Along edges, in open sites, and as understory
Rubus chamaemorus Cloudberry Along edges, trailing over walls, and as understory
Rubus ursinus Trailing blackberry In borders, along edges, and in open sites and disturbed
areas
PERENNIALS, CLIMBERS AND GROUNDCOVER
RECOMMENDED EDIBLE PLANTS FOR VANCOUVER
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 45
SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME OTHER LANDSCAPE VALUE
EV
E
R
G
R
E
E
N
SH
R
U
B
S
Mahonia nervosa Dull-leaved Oregon
grape
In borders and along edges
Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary In borders, barriers, and container
Salvia officinalis Sage In borders, barriers, and container
Vaccinium ovatum Evergreen
huckleberry
In borders and as hedges
DE
C
I
D
U
O
U
S
S
H
R
U
B
S
Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon berry In borders and as hedges
Corylus cornuta var.
californica
Hazlenut In borders and as hedges
Oemlaria cerasiformis Indian plum In parks and borders and as hedges
Ribes divaricatum Coastal black
gooseberry
In borders and as hedges
Ribes laxiflorum White-flowered
currant
In borders and as hedges
Rubus idaeus Raspberry In borders and as hedges
Rubus leucodermis Black raspberry In borders and as hedges
Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry in borders and as barriers
Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry in borders and as barriers
Sambucus cerulea Blue elderberry in borders and as a screen or barrier
Shepherdia camadensis Soapberry In borders and as hedges
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush blueberry in borders and as a screen or barrier
Vaccinium
membranaceum
Black Huckleberry In borders and as hedges
Vaccinium ovalifolium Oval-leaved
blueberry
In borders and as hedges
Vaccinium parvifolium Red Huckleberry in borders and as a screen or barrier
Viburnum edule High-bush
cranberry
in borders and as barriers
SHRUBS
46 URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE
SPECIES NAME COMMON NAME OTHER LANDSCAPE VALUE
EV
E
R
G
R
E
E
N
TR
E
E
S
Arbutus unedo Strawberry tree Accent plant along edges and near entries, in borders, and as
barrier or screen
Larus nobilis Sweet Bay Street tree, barrier or in containers
DE
C
I
D
U
O
U
S
T
R
E
E
S
Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut
Corylus avellana European filbert Accent plant along edges and near entries, in borders, and as
barrier or screen
Cydonia oblonga Quince Accent plant along edges and near entries, in borders, and
espaliered as barrier or screen
Ficus carica Fig Shade trees in parks and espaliered as barrier or screen;
dwarf varieties in containers
Juglans regina Persian walnut Shade trees in parks
Malus fusca wild Crab-Apple Accent plant along edges and near entries, in borders, and
espaliered as barrier or screen
Malus species Apples In parks and borders and espaliered as screens and hedges
Morus nigra Mulberry Background tree in borders, as a screen, and weeping
varieties as accent trees
Prunus dulcis var, dulcis Almond Small shade trees and along streets; dwarf varieties in
containers
Prunus carasus Sour cherry Beautiful accent tree in park, yard, or border; dwarf varieties
in containers
Prunus salicina Japanese plum Accent trees in borders; dwarf varieties in containers
Pyrus communis Pear Shade trees in parks and espaliered as barrier or screen;
dwarf varieties in containers
TREES
URBAN AGRICULTURE GARDEN GUIDE 47
“
“We are witnessing an increasing
dominance of urbanization
of the Earth with less land and
water per-capita. The return of agriculture to where we live
presents us with a new paradigm.”
City of Vancouver