The Steinbach and Area Garden Club has been part of the community for nearly 27 years, quietly shaping gardens, friendships, and shared green spaces across the city.
The club officially began on March 11, 1999, and over the years, members and volunteers have taken on the care of several well-known locations in Steinbach. Most notably, the group has spent many seasons maintaining the grounds at the Mennonite Heritage Village, while also helping with flower beds at the Jake Epp Public Library and other community spaces in past years.
Steinbach and Area Garden Club secretary, Pat Vande Vyvere.
Pat Vande Vyvere, secretary on the Board of the Steinbach and Area Garden Club, says the club has always been about more than just plants.
“The Garden Club is a place where people can come together,” Vande Vyvere says. “A lot of people, when they are new to the area of Steinbach, are wondering how do you get to meet people. A number of people joined the garden club just to be with people with a like-mind. They enjoy gardening, but you don’t have to be a master gardener; you just have to enjoy gardening.”
A long history of volunteering and partnership
One of the longest-running partnerships for the Garden Club is with the Mennonite Heritage Village, where the club also holds its monthly meetings.
“We do have a close relationship with the MHV,” Vande Vyvere explains. “That’s where our monthly meetings are held, and the museum allows us to meet there. But in return, we also take care of the gardens at the museum throughout the summer.”
That work includes planting, weeding, watering, deadheading, and seasonal clean-ups; often with volunteers showing up week after week.
“The volunteers from the Garden Club come down and take care of things around the museum,” she says. “It’s really a great partnership.”
In 2024, the club marked a major milestone by planting 25 trees on the museum grounds to celebrate its 25th anniversary, a project meant to last well into the future.
Friendships that grow over time
Vande Vyvere, who has been part of the club for about 10 years, says the social side of the Garden Club is just as important as the gardening itself.
“You get together, you chat about what you’re doing in your yard and what I’m doing in my yard,” she says. “A lot of people have had lifelong friends from the Garden Club. It’s just a casual, easy group to get together with.”
She adds that as Steinbach and the area continue to grow, those connections matter even more.
“You start seeing people you know in the grocery store, and you think, ‘I know that person,’” she says. “That’s really nice in a growing city.”
Meetings, speakers and learning together
The Garden Club meets once a month throughout the year, with meetings starting at 7 p.m. The Board meets separately to plan speakers, events, and activities.
“We kind of lay out a plan and decide what kind of speakers we’re going to have and what kind of events we’re going to do,” Vande Vyvere says.
This year’s speaker lineup includes topics like hydroponics, watershed programming, cattail harvesting, and what’s new at local greenhouses.
“In January, we had a presentation on hydroponics, and that really sparked interest,” she says. “It didn’t take a lot of space, and people were excited about the idea that you could grow your own lettuce in a month’s time.”
In February, representatives from the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District are scheduled to speak, followed by a March presentation on cattail harvesting, a renewable alternative to peat for soil improvement.
“It sounds a bit strange at first,” Vande Vyvere admits, “but cattails grow back, whereas peat is dug out and doesn’t regenerate. It’ll be really interesting to hear more about that.”
April typically features a local garden centre sharing what’s new for the upcoming growing season.
“It’s always nice to start planning and thinking about what you might want to try in your garden this year,” she says.
Member events and summer activities
Beyond speakers, the club also hosts seed exchanges, shopping nights with member discounts at local garden centres, and a June potluck.
“In March, members bring seeds they’ve collected and exchange with each other,” Vande Vyvere says. “It’s nice because you don’t have to buy your seed, and people can also give you a heads-up about how certain plants behave.”
While formal meetings pause in July and August, activities continue through volunteering and informal garden visits.
“We do something called Walk-about Wednesdays,” she explains. “If someone wants to invite members to walk through their yard, it’s very informal. It’s just a nice opportunity to see what other people are doing.”
A busy and rewarding volunteer season
Volunteer work remains a major part of the Garden Club’s identity.
In early May, Garden Club volunteers will help children plant pansies for Mother’s Day during Manitoba Day celebrations. Later in the month, members will take part in spring clean-up and planting at the museum, followed by weekly maintenance through the summer.
“From June to September, volunteers come out weekly to water, weed, and deadhead,” Vande Vyvere says. “A lot of dedicated people give their time to help keep the grounds looking good for visitors from all over.”
The season wraps up with a fall clean-up in September, preparing the gardens for winter.
Looking ahead to 2026
As the club looks toward 2026, the focus remains on learning, community, and welcoming new members, rather than large-scale events.
“We don’t have any big events planned, but I get excited about the learning opportunities,” Vande Vyvere says. “I also really enjoy seeing members sit down and just talk.”
She says the anticipation of spring is something all gardeners share.
“With the days getting longer and the sun getting stronger, gardeners start to feel that itch,” she says. “You start thinking about bulbs you’ve stored and getting things ready. That feeling of spring coming is great.”
Always open to new members
The Garden Club currently has about 35 individual members and 10 family memberships with people from Steinbach, Niverville, Grunthal, Ste Anne and the Marchand area attending. Vande Vyvere says their numbers often grow closer to 100 as the year progresses.
The monthly meetings are open to the public, and March will feature a membership drive with free admission for visitors. Annual memberships cost $20 for individuals and $30 for families.
“Don’t hesitate,” Vande Vyvere says. “Come on out to a meeting and see how you like it. We try to get people to mix and get to know each other. It’s just a really nice way to meet people.”
As it heads toward another growing season, the Steinbach and Area Garden Club continues to do what it’s always done: bring people together, nurture community, and help Steinbach and area bloom.
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