Growing Community from the Ground Up inside Belkin House’s Community Garden

The Volunteer Wave program was founded on the idea of fun, flexible, and exploratory volunteerism—creating space for busy people to give back when they can, while learning about new causes, meeting new people, and trying something different. On September 27, 2025, we began a project that aligns with all of our Volunteer Wave goals. We launched the first phase of a new gardening project in partnership with Belkin House, an emergency shelter and transitional housing facility in Downtown Vancouver. This initiative not only offered our Volunteer Wave community a fresh and hands-on experience, but also provided Belkin House with the gardening support they’d been waiting for. For many of our volunteers, it was their first-ever gardening experience, yet everyone came ready to dig in (literally!) and learn something new.

On the third floor of Belkin House sits a community garden—a space built for reflection, conversation, and connection among residents and staff. Over time, though, the garden had become overrun with invasive Himalayan blackberry bushes, tangled weeds, and overgrowth. The neglect had even obscured the newly painted mural on its walls by a local artist, hiding a symbol of renewal and creativity. Recognizing this, Belkin House put out a request for help—and the Volunteer Wave community didn’t hesitate to respond. We turned to one of our own community members, Carl Ronka, for guidance. Carl is a nature enthusiast, founder of environmental non-profit Web of Life which we partner with on a regular basis, and a professional landscaper. After visiting the site and consulting with Belkin House staff, Carl designed a phased restoration plan to help our volunteer team bring life back into the space.

During our first volunteer session (Phase 1), Carl shared his expertise on the art (and patience) of weeding and pruning for healthy regrowth. Volunteers quickly discovered that gardening demands both physical effort and delayed gratification. With a “Happy Gardening” music playlist playing in the background and small groups spread out across the garden, we cleared beds, trimmed back branches, and learned together as we worked.

As fatigue set in, volunteers gathered to enjoy a shared meal and rest—tired but proud of how much transformation had already taken place (especially for a group of non-gardeners!). By day’s end, most of the overgrowth had been cleared, the mural stood visible again, and the garden was ready for the second session (Phase 2). For the second session taking place on October 26th, 2025, we’ll be planting native, low-sunlight species like evergreen blackberry bushes and wildflowers to create a sustainable and welcoming green space for Belkin House residents.

Want to get involved?

No gardening experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to lend a hand. Join us on Bloomerang to RSVP for the upcoming planting session or explore other Volunteer Wave opportunities that grow impact right here in our local community here!