Nanaimo Foodshare is a not-for-profit charity founded in 1997 to increase food security and empower our community through hands-on food education. We help people gain the skills and confidence to grow, cook, and enjoy local, nourishing food. Through school garden facilitation programs, youth Spring Break and Summer camps, school field trips, workshops, open community drop-ins, and farm based learning at Park Ave Farm, we connect thousands of children, youth, and adults with where their food comes from. Our programs support healthy eating, environmental stewardship, and community resilience, while also growing fresh produce for the Good Food Box and local organizations.

 

We are assisting 5000+ people and aim to build a community where everyone, especially children and youth, has the skills, confidence, and access to grow and cook nourishing food. By connecting people with hands-on learning in school gardens, classrooms, and at Park Ave Farm, we hope to inspire lifelong healthy habits, strengthen local food systems, and create a sense of belonging. Our goal is a more food secure Nanaimo, where families have the knowledge and resources to grow their own food, share it, and care for the land that sustains us.

Gardening provides hands-on learning that builds confidence, curiosity, and resilience. It gives children and adults a sense of accomplishment, connection to nature, and pride in growing something themselves. For many families, gardening also increases access to fresh, healthy food and reduces financial barriers. In our programs, we see students become more engaged, calm, and excited to learn when they’re in the garden. Gardening strengthens community, supports mental and physical well-being, and empowers people with lifelong skills that help them care for themselves, each other, and the land.

Last year, more than 1,500 students and community members visited Park Ave Farm, where they planted thousands of west coast seeds and took home their own seedlings. Our programs run year-round, and the food grown on our farm supports the Good Food Box and is donated to local organizations or at our free table. We also offer free or subsidized spots for children and youth who face financial or social barriers, ensuring everyone can participate. Many families tell us our programs are the first time their child has ever planted a seed, harvested a vegetable, or cooked a meal from scratch.

Check out our website and watch the video to learn more.