The Story of our New Learning Garden

Sign up for our weekly Guided Work Parties in the Learning Garden here.

Located in Riley Park to the north of the Field House, there is a space we call "Ed's Garden". It is named after Ed Shum, a long-time resident who led the stewardship of the space for over 40 years. After Ed retired from the garden, LMNHS stepped in to redevelop the space to be more accessible and inclusive. The focus of its new design is learning for all ages through an Indigenous lens. 

The “before” of Ed’s beautiful garden!

The redevelopment has entered its second year. We started 2 years ago as F. Ramsay, UBC Directed Studies Student, led a community engagement process to gather input on what the space could look like and conducted a poll for community members to choose from the 3 designs she created. 

In 2024, we worked with the UBC ENV400 students and Sniw Cultural Consultant ethnobotanist Zarah Martz, and they created the native plant plan for the periphery of the garden space.

In March 2025, the chain link fence was removed from the space by the Vancouver Park Board.  We convened interested community members who wanted to be involved in the redevelopment planning process. We received soil donated by SuperSoil. Our resident soil scientist, Dr. Art Bomke, led 20 volunteers on Soil Day June 11th, to place soil on the garden borders to delineate the space. Community members have came out to update the garden design; connect with groups working in the environmental and nature-based education space; move soil; stake out the walkway, gathering space, and accessible beds; build planter boxes; have the garden be accepted as a Vancouver Master Gardeners project; and organize a regular series of work parties. 

At Hillcrest Festival with the Men’s Shed and UBC UEFS students

Staked out the pathways, gathering space, and accessible beds

We have held: 

  • 5 planning meetings with 12 people 

  • 5 Work Parties with over 20 people including 2 United Way Corporate Work Parties (CIRO and BCFSA)

  • An event at the Hillcrest Festival on June 21st, 2025 to engage community and ask for their input 

  • 1 planter box built

Community input, please

LMNH partners and community members helping co-create the Learning Garden

Thank you to Christine Boyle, BC NDP MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain and BC Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, for her gracious visit to us on July 4th where she learnt about the Learning Garden and its initiatives. Take a look at her visit video here.

The power of community to gather and co-create the Learning Garden is inspiring, as we are building community, connections, increasing our food security, and honouring the Musqueam Nation. 

If you would like to volunteer at our weekly Guided Work Parties, you can sign up here.

To find out more information about the Learning Garden, please email us at info@rileyparkgarden.org.

More Events…

To learn about more events at the garden: