Sunflowers, zucchini, cosmos, Scarlett Runners, mustard, zinnias, corn... you can find it all at the Alewem garden.  

When the housing site was first constructed, the raised beds were planted with landscaping varietals like laurel and boxwood—hardly salad fodder. Over time, the plants died off and the beds turned to unused dirt. Enter Greg, an Alewem resident and master gardener, who decided to plant his own seeds and make use of the growing space. Two summers later, Greg has transformed the garden beds into a lush food forest deserving of its own Home & Gardens magazine spread.

Greg has a long history of working with plants, including a degree in landscaping horticulture from Dalhousie University. He’s always loved nature and being outside, and the garden at Alewem has given him a way to stay connected to the earth while living in a big city. Each day, Greg spends two to three hours watering, weeding and maintaining the garden. His reward for all that hard work is delicious veggies and beautiful flowers and the stream of compliments he tends to get from residents, guests and staff. Plus the activity challenges him physically, which is good for his mental health.

It’s hard for Greg to choose his favourite plant to grow, but when pressed, he’ll say it’s sunflowers, which tower over the common area at Alewem, smiling at the sky. “Anyone can grow them,” he says, “you can plant them in bad soil, and they become a grand and majestic flower.”

Seeds (including sunflower seeds) were generously provided by West Coast Seeds. Thanks for supporting this resident-led garden initiative!

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