At Tapestry we love nothing more than when our residents and employees work together on projects that help to cultivate the vibrancy and connected nature of our community.

On Earth Day, residents and employees of Tapestry at Victoria Harbour excitedly gathered on the spectacular fifth-floor patio for the unveiling of a new vegetable and herb garden that will soon nourish their bodies, as well as their spirits. The garden is also an opportunity for residents and employees to work together daily, and share in the results – fresh, local and organic food.

The idea for the garden came to Executive Chef Chris Krogh during an employee planning session focused on ways to improve wellness. “At Tapestry we believe it’s very important to use local, sustainable products in our restaurants. Having our own garden not only brings the community together to plant, water, and harvest, but it also means reduced waste and less packaging from purchased goods,” he says.

Kim MacNeill, Wellness Manager, says the new garden aligns with Tapestry’s  commitment to align operations to the 7 Dimensions of Wellness. “This initiative not only promotes environmental and occupational wellness, but also fosters a sense of community and employee engagement,” she says.

“This garden is something we had been thinking about for some time, and I was thrilled when Chef Chris brought forward the idea again. It was clear other members of the team were also on board,” Kim adds.

A local horticulturalist helped plot out the placement of the plants and did the initial planting, but going forward, all garden maintenance and replanting will be done by Tapestry residents and employees. About 18 people have signed up to help water and harvest the garden, including members of Tapestry’s culinary and wellness teams.

“Bringing our community together is what we’re about here,” says Kim. “The garden helps people make social connections – not only with other residents, but also with our culinary employees, who are typically very much behind the scenes in the kitchen.”

“A lot of us grew up with gardening, so doing it again takes us back to our roots and brings back positive emotions, and there is also the spiritual aspect of connecting with nature,” says Kim. “We are also grateful we have the raised beds which makes the garden accessible for everyone,” she adds.

So far, the garden includes tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, beets, carrots, peas, herbs, spinach, five different types of lettuce, and several varieties of kale. Once the garden is in full bloom, Chef Chris expects to rely on it for a large share of the vegetables used to prepare meals for Tapestry’s residents.

Joyce, who moved into Tapestry last fall with her husband Don, says they both appreciate the new vegetable garden. “Just being able to watch everything develop and grow, and to be able to have a salad from your own garden – that’s pretty neat,” she says.

Joyce grew up on a farm, so she is used to having a garden, and she and Don still own farmland in Alberta where they used to live. “I love watching the plants grow,” Joyce says. She says she is also looking forward to the social aspect of the garden. “I think it will be a great way to build connections because we’ll be in the garden working together,” she adds.

So that residents and employees alike can be proud of what they’ve accomplished together, garden produce and herbs will be used in daily restaurant features and highlighted on the menu.

Chef Chris says it will be rewarding for the culinary team to deliver a true “farm to table” experience. “The residents will know where their food is from, where it’s grown, and who is preparing it,” he says. “And the culinary team can be proud of the local, sustainable and organic produce they are harvesting, cooking with and serving to residents.”

Tapestry also plans to share the benefits of the garden with the local community. “In June, students from the James Bay Community School will be coming to see the garden and learn a bit about it, including sustainability, as part of our intergenerational education program,” says Kim.

Also in the plans for the future: Joyce and Don plan to host a barbeque on the patio for family who are visiting from Alberta in August, and they are looking forward to showcasing the garden.

At Tapestry, we are committed to elevating your dining experience, building from a foundation of fresh, nutritious local ingredients designed to support long-term healthy living.

If you are considering making the move to Tapestry, please contact us for a tour and complimentary lunch and be sure to ask about our enticing move-in incentives.