UVic campus community garden
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The garden's address is 2100 McKenzie Avenue. The gated entrance faces away from it, towards McCoy road.
The garden office is located in the SUB (Student Union Building) at the University of Victoria, in the basement, room B020. See below for walking and driving directions, plus an explanation of the garden's accessibility. Walking directions from the Student Union Building (1.1 km): 1. Exit the SUB and cross the UVic bus loop towards the bookstore. 2. Walk past the bookstore, alongside the parking lot on your right hand side. 3. Cross Gabriola Rd. once you reach CARSA, and turn right. 4. At the crosswalk, cross McKenzie Ave and turn left. 5. Continue on the pathway. You will pass the TEF building, Wallace field, cross one intersection, and then find the garden down a diagonal path to the right side. The garden will be on your left before a small gravel parking lot. Alternative path (900 m): 3. Cross Gabriola Rd. once you reach CARSA, and follow the walkway between CARSA and the sports fields. 4. Cross Mckenzie at the intersection, and turn left. 5. Follow the pathway until you see a diagonal path to the right side. The garden will be on your left before a small gravel parking lot. Driving directions from McKenzie Ave at Gordon Head Rd: 1. Head north on Gordon Head Rd. 2. Turn right on McCoy Rd (across from Mt. Douglas Secondary School) 3. Drive to the end of McCoy Rd and there will be a small 2-hour parking lot at the end. 4. If the parking is full, there is a pay parking lot on Gordon Head Road (Lot #16 is $2.50 per hour and $6.50 per day). 5. Pay-parking is also available in the UVic parkade beside CARSA. 
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Accessibility
Pathways The garden is reached by mainly paved sidewalk and pathway that turns to gravel paths on a slight slope. The central area surrounding the gazebo and sheds is on flat, packed light gravel. Gravel paths also reach to the Composting Toilet and through the middle of the garden via a loop, passing our orchard and between plots. The remainder of the garden paths are narrow, grassy paths from 2-5 feet wide. It is all flat, but after rain can be muddy and slippery; in spring it is quite grassy and uneven. Getting between some plots might involve walking across wooden boards or avoiding fallen bamboo poles and other garden items, especially after wind. Our wooden gazebo has ramp access. Seating: We have three wooden picnic tables plus ~7-10 individual foldout or plastic chairs, and a few low wooden benches. Shade: There is little to no shade at the garden aside from the gazebo. We have three moveable umbrellas which are generally locked in staff shed, except during summer months, where we tend to leave them outside. During big events, we try to have 10x10 tents set up to protect from sun. Water: The shed sink and all hoses in the garden are tap water. Our water is on roughly from April until November. When it's turned off over the winter months, we rely on rainwater barrels, and occasionally have jugs of drinkable water left by the shed for handwashing or drinking. Toilet: The composting toilet itself has concrete ramp access and is wheelchair accessible inside the door and outside, where there is soap and a sink. This toilet is reachable via hard gravel paths. Transit There are bus stops along McKenzie Ave. for the 26 and 39; the best stop is called "McKenzie at Vikes Way." Otherwise, it is easiest to walk from the UVic bus loops for routes like the 4, 7, 11, 14, 15, etc. Driving The parking lot at the end of McCoy Rd. is gravel, has no lines, and has room for 4 cars, one being an accessible designated spot. McCoy Rd. is currently under construction, but this parking area is still available. The lot is "2 Hours Free" as designated by Saanich and is outside of University of Victoria jurisdiction. The lot backs onto the multi-use paved path which then runs along the garden's gravel access. When you park, walk past the yellow post, and the garden is to your right. If there are no free 2-hour spots available, we recommend going to UVic Lot 16 on Gordon Head Road, which is a 400m walk from the garden, or into the McKenzie Parkade, which is beside Lot 3, and is a 300m walk to the garden and requires crossing the lights at McKenzie and Vikes Way. Both lots are pay-parking and can be paid for with the HONK app or by machine with credit card or coins, usually for $2.50 an hour or $10.50 for a day. Lot #16 has a lower day rate of $6.50 They are free on Sundays. If you have any accessibility questions, feel free to email [email protected] or write to us via our contact page. |
