Community garden plots at the sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park (photo courtesy of the RDNO)

By Liam Verster

sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park Projects

Gardeners planting in community plots, other projects underway at RDNO Agricultural Park

Jun 18, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park (SAP) plots are being filled and other projects will see more plants blooming in the near future.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) said the community garden plots that opened May 1 have been filled with local gardeners planting crops, stating these efforts will help foster community-led food production and education.

“The transformation of sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park is a testament to what can be achieved through community collaboration and vision”, Bob Fleming, Director of RDNO Electoral Area B, and chair of the Electoral Area Advisory Committee, stated.

“It’s inspiring to see so many people come together to create something that benefits both the land and the people.”

In addition to the community garden, the RDNO has several other projects planned for the SAP.

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• Food Forest Development: a volunteer-led effort by Friends of the SAP to improve walking paths and irrigation, and by planting edible trees, shrubs and plants (supported by a $7,760 B.C. Hydro ReGreening Grant and by a $3,340 RDNO Rural Economic Development Fund contribution)
• Hog’s Gulch Wetland Restoration: An ecological restoration project overseen by Associated Environmental (supported by a $30,000 Okanagan Basin Water Board Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant, and Friends of the SAP donating machinery for the work)
• Three Sisters Pumpkin Patch: A new addition to the park to celebrate traditional Indigenous agricultural practices and grow pumpkins, squash, and other vegetables for local use and educational purposes
• Hedgerow Planting: Establishing new hedgerows through the park to enhance wildlife habitat, provide windbreaks, and create natural boundaries
• Soil Amending and Seeding at the North End: Having the Greater Vernon Diversion & Disposal Facility contributing to the RDNO-Gro revitalization at the park’s north end with native grasses and improved soil conditions
• Commercial Agricultural Activity: Using the park for various commercial agricultural purposes including beekeeping, vegetable and flower production, and feed crop harvesting

“The park is truly thriving. From food security to environmental stewardship, SAP is becoming a model for sustainable community development,” Electoral Area C Director Amanda Shatzko, said.