Work parties are one of the CCG's longest standing traditions!

Once a week (or twice in the summer!), garden staff, board, volunteers, and community members get together to get their hands dirty and show the garden some love! These events are open to everyone, not just UVic students or plot renters.

Work parties are currently on Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm and Fridays from 2pm to 4pm. We meet under the gazebo or by the picnic tables, do an unscripted land acknowledgment, a round of introductions, and then we start! Check our location page for directions.

The tasks change from week-to-week and are largely seasonal. You can check our Instagram or Discord to find out what the upcoming work party will be focused on, and occasionally we do indoor work parties at the SUB in case of incremental weather.

Good to know:
  • There are always low physical capacity or low energy tasks available, like seed saving, that can be done sitting under the gazebo or at a table
  • We have a toilet on site
  • We usually have drinking water, but it's best if you bring your own in the winter months and a reusable bottle
  • Our snacks vary, but are usually granola bars, trail mix, apple sauce, seaweed crisps, or fruit/vegetable gummies
  • It's okay if you have to arrive late or leave early! Work parties are drop-in style :-)

Work parties provide a space for the following and more:
  • meeting new people
  • learning new skills or refreshing old ones
  • encouraging positive relationships to the land and food
  • community building
  • education regarding sustainable practices
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From our FAQ: What are the work parties like?

Each one is a little different, and they're usually really chill!
 
  • First we do a land acknowledgment, a round of introductions, and a check-in question (ranging from "how are you doing today" to "what kind of squash are you")

  • Then we see what's on the list and split into small groups to tackle tasks, depending on what needs doing and how many people are at the party. This could be anything like pruning, harvesting, planting, raking, mulching, etc!

  • As a general rule we go for 2 hours, but will end earlier if we've been working hard, if we finish early, or if we're losing sunlight or warmth!

  • The party ends with a small snack for everyone who helped out, and sometimes we have plants, herbs, or produce to send along as well :) ​