The West Shore community is being encouraged to "bite back" and help boost food security.
Organized by ReImagine West Shore, the Farm to Fork initiative is a community-wide that will encourage individuals, families, farmers and organizations to work together to combat rising grocery costs by shopping local and growing fresh produce at home.
"It emphasizes that together, we can bite back to improve access to healthy food, support local economies and cultivate community spirit," noted a ReImagine West Shore news release.
Throughout 2025, the group has organized a number of food-related activities, kicking off on Saturday March 8 with 'West Shore Seedy Saturday' at Belmont Secondary School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the event, participants can buy seeds and 'plant starts' for the season ahead.
"Learn the basics of growing your own produce, listen to expert speakers, exchange seeds with fellow community members, and discover the joys and savings that come with home-grown food," they noted in the release.
In collaboration with the RUSH Initiative and the University of Victoria’s department of geography, the group also plans to create a West Shore map, highlighting the community resources that support local food and agriculture, such as farms, community gardens and pollinator gardens.
The map will be shared with the community in the summer, which will serve as a tool in supporting the West Shore's local agriculture economy.
"Helping customers make informed choices that are good for both their health and their wallets," say the group.
Whether you're a gardening novice or keen to show off your green thumb, the group will be hosting the 'West Shore tomato challenge', with free organic tomato plants available, along with "all the juicy details on how to grow ‘em." All the group asks in return is for participants to share their tomato plant's progress via their social media channels, email or at pop-up community events.
There will also be a number of free community workshops, offering advice on a array of gardening techniques, hosted throughout the year. The Farm to Fork initiative will then be capped off with a harvest supper and food bank fundraiser in the fall.
"Join us as we sow the seeds of change, enrich our lives with local flavours, and grow a sustainable food future together," they noted.
For more information, visit the ReImagine West Shore website at https://reimagineus.ca.
