2023 Scholarship Recipients (West Coast Seeds x gardenologie)

We are so incredibly honored, humbled and touched by all the applications received for the West Coast Seeds x gardenologie Scholarship. When we set out on this project in 2022, we hadn’t anticipated the number of gardeners out there striving to better their communities and help increase food security. In 2023, the responses were equally moving.

Collaboration is so important in the garden as well as in our communities and we are grateful to the team at West Coast Seeds for their support of two scholarships. Their organization is a true Canadian gem and their dedication to helping gardens sprout across our vast country exemplifies their generous spirit. For the 2023 application process, we expanded eligibility to US-based gardeners. 

We were initially going to award 2 scholarships for A Year in the Urban Garden. However, after reading through the hundreds of submissions, it became clear that we needed to do more. Both Luay and Melissa felt it important to individually sponsor 3 additional scholarships. After much consideration, we have selected the following candidates and we can’t wait to embark on this journey together and we are equally committed to learn from them as they are from us.

Aishwarya I., Oakland, California

Aishwarya strives to live a sustainable life, and looks at ways to reduce her carbon footprint. Last year she grew her own salad, made her own zucchini noodles and jarred pickles. She was also able to grow some vegetables from her native India like bitter gourd and okra. She wants to learn how to maximize her space and grow abundantly.

"I want to work in the food justice space and in many ways access and learning starts at home. I also volunteer at a non-profit called farming hope in San Francisco and to the extent I receive this scholarship, a lot of my learning will be applied to help our community garden."

Deonarly S., Scarborough, Ontario

Deonarly is a childcare provider who loves to teach the children in her care about growing food. She immigrated to Canada from the Philippines where she gardened in a tropical climate. She is looking forward to learning about growing in the Southern Ontario climate. She wants to incorporate pollinator-supporting flowers, something we encourage greatly here at gardenologie. 

"I love gardening and I enjoy digging the soil. I love learning new things and put a lot of work and heart into my garden. My garden is my heart and soul."

Emily B., Ottawa, Ontario

A member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg, Emily wants to continue to support her gardening journey - reclaiming traditional foods from traditional seeds has been an important part of her life. During the pandemic, she ramped up her home garden as a way to connect to the land, grow extra food and teach her children about gardening/life.

"I started growing my own traditional medicines, adding traditional berries and vegetables into my garden."

Christopher L., Lloydminster, Saskatchewan

Christopher is a cancer survivor and his interest in growing his own food and medicine has been a main focus. But with no prior practical experience, the most he’s been able to grow successfully were potatoes and a few squash and zucchini plants in consecutive years. We look forward to helping Christopher on his food-growing journey. 

"I aspire to start a commercial organic farm to provide local communities with affordable food options, provide donations to the local shelters and the community centres that offer free community meals for anyone who shows up to eat." 

Megan is a childcare coordinator at a community center. Her work entails running a before and after care program, as well as an eight-week summer camp program for children.

Megan says: "A goal of mine is to teach the children in my care about food security and give them the tools to begin their passion towards growing their own food in the city." 

Meet your Instructors

The vision of two garden professionals, Melissa Cameron of The Good Seed and Luay Ghafari of Urban Farm and Kitchen, gardenologie is a garden lifestyle brand that offers garden education, coaching, design and planning. Gardens have the ability to transform not only our outdoor landscapes but our health and communities, with more urban and suburban dwellers than ever embracing their outdoor spaces and connecting with nature. We expertly guide, curate and deliver beautiful garden content online and in person. We are also big fans and supporters of West Coast Seeds.

A Year in the Urban Garden Master Class

In 2020, we launched the 5-star reviewed Garden to Table Master Class, A Year in the Urban Garden. This one-of-a-kind online program offers students the opportunity to learn about garden visioning, planning, seed starting, soil health, pest management, plant maintenance, harvesting, preservation, recipes and much more. With access to email and phone support, as well as group learning opportunities and garden plan reviews, the program has helped hundreds of gardeners achieve abundant harvests and beautiful results. The second year was even bigger with participants joining the program from coast to coast in Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia.