City to host a FSJ Community Garden Town Hall Meeting

The City of Fort St. John is launching a Let’s Talk public engagement to discuss the future of the Fort St. John Community Garden located on the property of the Church of the Resurrection (the Catholic Church) - at 9504 100 Avenue.

The garden has been in this location for over ten years and was previously managed by the North Peace Justice Society and, most recently, by the Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT). With the permanent closure of the NEAT office, there is no management structure in place to oversee garden operations and the future of this Community Garden is unknown.

The City will host a Community Town Hall on April 5, from 6:30-8 pm in Festival Plaza (9523 100 Street), to hold a community conversation about the FSJ Community Garden. It is hoped that by bringing together interested citizens and organizations, a future for the garden can be determined and operations will continue for the 2023 growing season. An online community survey has also been launched on the City’s Let’s Talk webpage, which will be open until April 9.

“We want the Community Garden to thrive,” stated Mayor Hansen. “Community gardens are healthy for our community. They contribute in a positive way to local food security, mental well-being, and make our urban areas safer and more liveable.”

The Community Garden offers Fort St. John residents access to raised bed garden plots to grow their own plants and food with shared resources, such as seeds, water, compost bins, and tools. Members of the garden contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of the shared garden space. The garden has also been host to community events that feature access to local food producers and educational opportunities to learn gardening and related activities such as permaculture and composting.

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