Rainbow Road Park Allotment Gardens

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Rainbow Road Park Allotment Gardens is a volunteer run community garden located beside the Rainbow Road Aquatic Centre. We provide an opportunity for non-profit, locally produced organic food with a shared experience and learning derived from gardening together. In our 39 plots the emphasis is on water conservation methods with use of catchment water from both the Aquatic Centre roof and our small shelter roof within the garden area. With adherence to organic growing methods, we model climate-conscious small scale agriculture.

We reach out to the community by inviting interested groups to tour and take part in on-site learning. Currently the Heron's Nest preschool children are gardening on a small plot. We have on-site composting systems, mason bee housing and pollinator beds in support of native bee populations. Members participate in the maintenance of the watering system, pathways, fence, and flower borders.

As part of a community intent on developing resilience in the face of climate change, we consider ourselves an important component towards increased local food self-sufficiency.  With the increasing demand for allotment garden growing (as indicated by the long waiting list for our gardens) we hope for expansion of areas for community gardening.

 

RRPAG is currently operated by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

 

Membership is open to residents on SSI on a first come/first serve basis and there is often a short wait list - but be patient as openings do occur!

 

Members are required to pay a small annual fee and share the cost of water.

 

Apply Here:

Activites

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Great Beginnings

We are the first Community Garden created on Salt Spring Island. Our generous supporters are: CRD, PARC, Transition Salt Spring, Island Natural Growers, Salt Spring Island Garden Club, Salt Spring Island Community Services, and many volunteers and donors.

In late 2011 Kees Ruurs of the Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) contacted Salt Spring Island’s food growing groups for volunteers to help create an allotment garden behind the Rainbow Road Pool. This site was chosen because of its central location, access to the pool parking and washrooms, former Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) zoning, full sun, and access to irrigation water.

Many hands make light work

A Steering Committee was created with volunteer members from Transition Salt Spring (TSS), Island Natural Growers (ING), Salt Spring Island Community Services (SSICS), Salt Spring Island Garden Club (SSIGC), and Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC).

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Planning Pays Off

The first meeting was held in December 2011. After several successful meetings and site visits, ground breaking took place in February 2012. The fencing was started in March 2012, and by the beginning of April the remaining fencing and irrigation was installed. RRPAG was officially opened on Saturday April 14th, 2012 at 1pm.

Thanks to all of you, we have 37 grateful gardeners happily growing here!

 

RRPAG News, Resources, & Events

Let’s Grow Together- Victory Gardens for Climate Resilience

Let’s Grow Together Follow up chat and links from our TSS event June 9th 2021 (Sincere apologies but the video recording of this event has disappeared into the ethers. The questions below give a good summary of the topics covered.) Thank you to all for your participation in this incredibly informative event on Growing together…
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Water Conservation – Small Island Solutions

Learn about Rainbow Road Allotment Gardens and the water conservation, catchment and irrigation systems that make this project a success! View Powerpoint Presentation Here
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RRPAG – Rainbow Road Park Allotment Garden Updates

Jan 29th 2021 RRPAG Garden fees are due on February 15. Plot rentals continue to be an affordable $25.00 a year, plus $27.00 for our water.  Thanks to the water conservation efforts of our members, and our three tanks that collect rain water, these water fees have remained the same as last year. Fees can…
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Rainbow Rd. Park Allotment Gardens Update and Plots Available!

Thanks to a $500.00 Small Neighbourhood Grant from the Salt Spring Foundation, we have levelled the floor of our gathering shelter. The smooth gravel surface will allow us to hold open houses on water conservation, organic gardening, pollinator plants, and more. We are starting the 2019 gardening season with several plots available for rent. Gardeners…
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Rainbow Rd. Park Allotment Grant update and Gardens Plots Available!

Thanks to a $500 grant from the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program from the Salt Spring Foundation, we have levelled the floor of our gathering shelter. The smooth gravel surface will allow us to hold open houses on water conservation, organic gardening, pollinator plants, and more. The new gravel floor was also an opportunity to add a…
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RRPAG Summer Potluck-at-the-Garden

Come mix and mingle with the community of gardeners at the Rainbow Road Allotment Garden located behind the parking lot by the Rainbow Road pool.  Friday, June 24 from 5:00-7:00pm. Garden members will be happy to show you around the garden and answer your questions. Come hungry for good organic locally-prepared food, and come curious…
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This collection of garden plots, which began in 2012 on a then-unused patch of ground located behind the swimming pool parking lot, has produced a huge amount of food and provides an increasingly healthy habitat for insects and other critters that thrive in a garden environment. Organic and non-GMO produce is encouraged and the use of unfriendly materials is enforced. Composting of waste is done onsite.

~   Please drop by during daytime hours and have a look!  ~