Food Garden pilot

Overview

Community gardens aerial view

Food gardens provide a wonderful opportunity to grow food while also supporting community building, knowledge sharing, and placemaking. Due to growing interest for food gardens on campus, the University of Waterloo is piloting a food garden project on main campus in spring 2024.

In late May, 10 food garden plots (4x12' each) will be installed adjacent to the Healing Forest by the V1 residence, and will be available for student and employee use on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for food garden plots will open on May 29, 2024 at 9:00am (ET).

Accessibility accommodations: All garden plots are a minimum 2 feet tall, with two being approximately 3 feet tall. The beds will be spaced 4 feet apart with wood chip paths and will surround an accessible picnic table. Due to site selection constraints, approximately 10 meters of sloped lawn must be crossed once off the paved path to get to the garden. Rain barrels will be available at the garden for water access. Additional details about accessibility accommodations will be updated in the coming weeks.

Some additional details:

  • Groups of minimum two students, staff or faculty, as well as student groups and departments, can rent garden plots 
  • Garden plots can be rented from May to October
  • A waitlist will be created if all garden plots have been claimed
  • Gardeners must be actively using their plots by Fri, Jun 14 or their plot will be forfeited and reassigned

Before submitting an application, interested gardeners must read the Food Garden Guidelines.