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The garden beds at Lansdowne Centre aren’t just full of carrots and kale—they’re full of heart. Since breaking ground in 2021, the Richmond mall’s food garden has produced nearly 3,000 pounds of fresh produce, all donated to local organisations working to reduce food insecurity. This year, its community roots are growing even deeper.
In addition to continuing support for the Richmond Food Bank Society, the garden is now lending its leafy greens to the Meals on Wheels program. That means vegetables grown just steps from a shopping centre will soon be part of hot, nutritious meals delivered to seniors, caregivers and people recovering from illness or surgery in both Richmond and Vancouver.
“We are proud of the small impact we have made in the community to fight food insecurity. We have donated nearly 3,000 lbs of produce to families in need in the past four years. We also host free, weekly workshops at the Food Garden to help anyone interested learn to grow their own vegetables at home whether it is the back yard, patio or balcony,” shares Bronwyn Bailey, Marketing Manager at Lansdowne Centre, in a release.
To that end, Lansdowne is also bringing back its free gardening workshops, hosted by local urban farming team Victory Gardens. Held every Thursday, the sessions run now through to September 4 and cover everything from composting basics and seed saving to dealing with pests and reviving a struggling tomato plant. The hands-on lessons are open to all ages and skill levels, making it easy for balcony growers, backyard dreamers, and curious first-timers to get involved.
Expect lessons on how to grow cucumbers, eggplants, beets, garlic and more—basically, a full salad’s worth of tips. There are also kid-friendly sessions on seed starting and insect observation for budding green thumbs in training.
When: Thursdays, from now until September 4, 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Where: Parking lot near T&T at Lansdowne Centre
Admission: Free