Picking at a bowl of freshly harvested black currants, longtime LifeCycles Project volunteer John Errington ruminates on the joys of working in a local, public orchard.

Summer is snacking season in the Welland Community Orchard named for Rex Welland, a late resident who, over two decades, packed more than 100 varieties of apples onto the two-thirds of an acre land, and left it to View Royal in trust B次元官网网址� under covenant to remain an orchard. Victoria LifeCycles Project, a non-profit has led upkeep and creation at the orchard since 2013.

B次元官网网址淭he Welland orchard is a very good connector between the community and our organization. The benefits to us and the environment are equal,B次元官网网址� said Julia McDougall, interim executive director of LifeCycles. B次元官网网址淧eople enjoy a third space, but theyB次元官网网址檙e subtly learning the joys of ties to where their food comes from.B次元官网网址�

It was that connection to land, learning and his own family history that drew Errington.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to learn about heritage, varieties of trees,B次元官网网址� he said, of his foray to the park. B次元官网网址淵ou feel like youB次元官网网址檙e doing something useful preserving heritage varieties.B次元官网网址�

A proponent of lifelong learning, grafting quickly became one of his retirement passions. The art of taking root stock and bud or twig and creating a new tree for Welland Community Orchard or his two acres on Thetis Island.

Commercial growers focus on a dozen types of apples with an eye on transport and storage, the View Royal orchard is home to more than 100 varieties, he said. 

The work, and the growing grove on Thetis are a throwback to his own heritage.

ErringtonB次元官网网址檚 grandparents came from England in 1907 and bought an orchard in North Saanich near the airport. There they grew kings apples, still found all over the region and a species called wealthy.

Now, Errington shares what heB次元官网网址檚 learned through the orchard, leading the occasional workshop.

And while B次元官网网址渁ll grafting is not successfulB次元官网网址� he boasts four of four of them surviving during a small teaching session recently. Attending workshops is part of his seasonal plan, particularly learning about summer pruning.

That is a skill and an art, says orchard coordinator River Stevens.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to visualize what you want to see the tree look like now and what you want it to look like next year,B次元官网网址� they said, adding B次元官网网址渢heyB次元官网网址檒l do what they want.B次元官网网址�

Phanh Nguyen moved to Greater Victoria in January and started volunteering in the spring, in particular to learn pruning.

B次元官网网址淚 really like it because I donB次元官网网址檛 know too much about taking care of fruit trees and River is knowledgeable, they are very welcoming,B次元官网网址� said Nguyen who plans to continue hands-on practise at the orchard.

While the workshops are a favourite, even just the garden itself, and the visitors are a draw.

B次元官网网址淭hey have the native plant corner that is blooming right now and is very pretty. Also the fact there are so many different varieties of trees and the opportunity to learn about them,B次元官网网址� Nguyen said. B次元官网网址淚 think I like all aspects of it.B次元官网网址�

Errington and Nguyen also enjoy the camaraderie aspect.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 easy to talk to people when you garden,B次元官网网址� Nguyen said, noting the variety of people who come through the space.

ItB次元官网网址檚 truly a community amenity, Errington agreed.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people walk through here,B次元官网网址� he said, noting the public comes to pick apples, visit, sit, and taste.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in snacking season. WeB次元官网网址檙e getting the first tastes of things,B次元官网网址� Stevens said.

Plants ready and ripe for eating are marked with orange flagging tape. Signage on the shed also indicates when things are ready and what to expecting coming soon.

Cherries and berries are early crops, but donB次元官网网址檛 pick the figs B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e not ready.