A plot-laden neighbourhood hides a decades-long piece of growing land nearly forgotten by the city, but embraced by neighbours.

After 35 years of being cultivated by James Vitti and Brigitte Sutherland, the city lot is on the precipice of a more formal designation as a common gardens food forest.

The history of the garden goes back to the neighbouring lot two owners ago, Vitti explained. They were looking to divide the lot, but learned from the city they couldnB次元官网网址檛 because of an underground brick-lined culvert running under the land. The city bought the lot and the couple next door gardened there. When they came decades ago, Vitti and Sutherland continued that practice.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted to make it something that we could eat from throughout the whole year,B次元官网网址� Vitti said, pointing to added fruit trees and vines. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to add enough that there would be more birds and all sorts of wildlife here.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 become a neighbourhood hub, with neighbours pitching in on occasion, or enjoying an Easter hunt or block party in the space.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always also envisioned it as also a nucleus of other gardens on Garden Street,B次元官网网址� Vitti said.

It has achieved that status, says Nicky Harding, a neighbour on the B次元官网网址渁ptly namedB次元官网网址� street. She helps with the occasional harvest, with husband Jamie pitching in working with James weekly for the last two or three years.

B次元官网网址淭hey teach us, they share with us, theyB次元官网网址檙e just incredible. (I like) the idea that this is going to carry on B次元官网网址� that itB次元官网网址檚 going to transform into a community-based food forest for other people to enjoy as well,B次元官网网址� Harding said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just so inspiring, theyB次元官网网址檝e inspired us. We always gardened a bit in our yard, but weB次元官网网址檝e taken over, I think, five boulevards neighbours have lent us to grow our vegetables and flowers on.B次元官网网址�

The coupleB次元官网网址檚 farm stand sits not far from the neighbourhood growing space; at the other end of the block dotted with boulevard gardens, a seed library inspires future growers.

Neal Yonson is a more recent transplant to the street, quickly learning of the secret little B次元官网网址渁mazing space.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 worked with the LifeCycles Project in the past and brings that expertise helping Vitti when he can.

B次元官网网址淛ames didnB次元官网网址檛 just take this lot and just leave it and let it become overgrown B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 really taken years and years, decades of care, to make it into an actual special place, a productive place and one thatB次元官网网址檚 taken care of, not just overlooked,B次元官网网址� Yonson said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 love to be able to help steward this as a public space as well. Learning how much work James has put into this over all the years to make it what it is B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 happy to start getting involved and make it more of a public asset.B次元官网网址�

Vitti frequently speaks about the future of the space both in urban agriculture and a community hub, Yonson said.

That future could be a little more cultivated and official than in the past.

B次元官网网址淲hat now has happened is that the city, in surveying all the different properties they have in different states when it comes to its usage in food sustainability, has looked at this lot,B次元官网网址� Vitti said, noting the lot has no real designation.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no status for this land. A lot of city planners and people have come and gone and asked, B次元官网网址榃hat is the future of this land?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Collectively they hope it will gain official designation such as a common gardens food forest, not necessarily a public space, but protected as a food source with established trees and bushes.

That would also open access to more grants which means more outreach and participation.

Led by Kayla Siefried at the Victoria Compost Education Centre, the site has already earned grant funding to map out the existing space and plans, and develop a potential plan for future use. She is also coordinating a proposal to the city to have it designated as a food forest, Vitti explained.

B次元官网网址淎fter 35 years B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e really looking to preserve it and at the same time kind of celebrate the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be something more involving all the neighbours.B次元官网网址�

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