Redfern Park Commons Community Garden
Greening Committee Updates
SJNA Board and community members are working together to enhance the greenspaces in South Jubilee
Who are we?
In the summer of 2020, a group of South Jubilee residents came together and began dreaming of what South Jubilee might look like with community gardens bringing community members together. Many ideas for gatherings and educational events in community parks were discussed.
The Redfern Park Commons Community Garden is the product of that dreaming. As of September 2022, construction has started on this community project. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please email redfernparkcommons@gmail.com.
Greening Committee News + Events
Join our email list or check here, Facebook, or Instagram for volunteer call outs & events!
Updates: Redfern Park Commons Garden
Here’s a closer look at Redfern Commons at Redfern Park. Photos don’t do it justice, please visit the beautiful garden space when you have a chance. For more information on Redfern Commons, including progress photos, please visit our Facebook page and have a look at the Greening photo album!
August 20, 2023: Grand Opening of Redfern Commons at Parkfest!
August 20th was a special day and we are grateful to our partners for attending the grand opening. At the Ribbon Cutting was Deputy City Manager, Thomas Soulliere; Melanie Ransome, Director of Communications and Engagement; and Calen McNeil, Founder, Big Wheel Burger Inc., SJNA Greening Committee Founding members, Erin, Kathleen and Marc who volunteered a wealth of professional experience in landscape design, community engagement and project management. The community is grateful for Erin, Kathleen, Marc for their countless volunteer hours to take this project from concept to reality.
Huge thanks to our 70 AMAZING volunteers who donated 140 hours of time and hard work to the commons. Site prep, shed building, path making, mason bee house building, electricity, soil moving, planting, edging, weeding…This project could not have come to life without you!
This project could not have been realized without the generosity of our sponsors and partners:
Here’s a closer look at Redfern Commons at Redfern Park. Photos don’t do it justice, please visit the beautiful garden space when you have a chance. For more information on Redfern Commons, including progress photos, please visit our Facebook page and have a look at the Greening photo album!
August 20, 2023: Grand Opening of Redfern Commons at Parkfest!
August 20th was a special day and we are grateful to our partners for attending the grand opening. At the Ribbon Cutting was Deputy City Manager, Thomas Soulliere; Melanie Ransome, Director of Communications and Engagement; and Calen McNeil, Founder, Big Wheel Burger Inc., SJNA Greening Committee Founding members, Erin, Kathleen and Marc who volunteered a wealth of professional experience in landscape design, community engagement and project management. The community is grateful for Erin, Kathleen, Marc for their countless volunteer hours to take this project from concept to reality.
Huge thanks to our 70 AMAZING volunteers who donated 140 hours of time and hard work to the commons. Site prep, shed building, path making, mason bee house building, electricity, soil moving, planting, edging, weeding…This project could not have come to life without you!
This project could not have been realized without the generosity of our sponsors and partners:
- FAQS about the Redfern Park Commons Community Garden Project
- Updated Plans for Redfern Commons – as of Sept 13, 2022
January 28, 2023: Thank you to our Volunteers!
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – M.J. Wheatley”
The Greening Committee of the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association and our neighbourhood volunteers have been hard at work since September! We could not build our new Redfern Commons without the power of community and our dedicated volunteers. We’ve had 54 volunteers sign up, putting in 63 hours since we started last September. By the end of the year we completed site prep, pathways, rock seating and pollinator planting. We’ve almost finished our shed that will hold volunteer tools and materials. Soon we will be building our structures and patio and be ready for more planting to welcome our pollinators.
Thanks to our many, many volunteers who we could not do this without. Special mention to those who stepped up to help lead the building of our pathway edging and shed – your technical skills were invaluable. Also thank you to the City of Victoria for grants to make this project possible; SJNA social media posts; to the Jawl family who have provided us with our wood materials and soil and to Gräscale Developments (GDI) who will get us started on the footings for our green roofed gazebo; and to CSL Landscaping for their support. Thank you to everyone who stops by to say hi and provide us the encouragement to continue on.
– Kathleen Laird, Volunteer Coordinator, Greening Committee
Sept 14, 2022: A new community garden is coming soon to Redfern Park!
In February 2022, City of Victoria Council approved the design and proposal of the Redfern Park Commons Garden created by the Greening Committee of the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association. The garden will include demonstration beds, food trees and a commons garden with edible perennials, native and pollinator plants. Features include a wheelchair accessible pathway, seating areas, wayfinding and educational signage, picnic tables, a pergola with a living roof, and an arbour. South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association volunteers will create and maintain the Redfern Park Commons Garden. Construction will take place from September 2022 to Spring 2023. The park pathway through Redfern Park may be closed periodically during construction. Thank you for your patience.
If you would like to get involved or if you have any questions about the community garden, please contact the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association’s Garden Committee at redfernparkcommons@gmail.com.
March 11, 2022: City Council Approves Redfern Park Community Garden
The South Jubilee Greening Committee received the news on Friday that their Redfern Park Community Garden proposal had been approved by city council. Congratulations to the Greening Committee consisting of Erin Renwick, Kathleen Laird and Marc Craig and thanks for all the hours you have put into this proposal.
South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association volunteers will create and maintain a community garden in Redfern Park. The design includes curved demonstration beds, food trees and commons gardens planted with edible perennials, native and pollinator plants. Other features include an accessible pathway and seating areas, wayfinding and educational signage, a picnic table, and a pergola with a living roof and an arbour.
Our project, along with the Vic West, were written up in the Times Colonist.
The latest version of the plans for Redfern Park are available here.
October 8, 2021: Redfern Park Commons Design
The Greening Committee has been working on refining the design for the Redfern Park Commons Area. They are now ready for more input from you.
The revised site plan for the Commons is available here. Their proposal is available here.
Once you’ve had a look at the proposal, please take the Redfern Park Community Garden Design survey. The survey is open until November 15, 2021. Community input will help the garden committee finalize the design of this space. Click here to view Survey Results.
March 26, 2021: City of Victoria Funding for Park Design
We have been awarded a $5000 Design Grant from the City of Victoria to continue to refine the design for Redfern Park that was started in 2020. We are seeking community ideas and feedback.
Please take a moment to look at the slides from the presentation we made at the November 2020 South Jubilee Neighbourhood meeting. Do you have ideas for the use of the greenspace around the children’s playground in Redfern Park?