This summer, as manager of the NSG program – and as a guest living not far from the Ntamqen Community Garden – I hosted a four-part series of gatherings. Every second week, neighbours from across the South Okanagan Similkameen came together to weed, water, and harvest, before sharing food and cooling off in the Similkameen River.

These afternoons were more than garden work, they were acts of reciprocity. We gave care to the land, and in return, it nourished us with food, beauty, and a sense of belonging. People showed up not only with their hands but with their hearts, reminding one another of the strength and joy we hold when we come together.

The season closed in late August with a community feast hosted by Dixon, Hannah, and Coven. Tables filled with freshly caught salmon, bighorn mountain sheep, and vegetables harvested that very morning. Chef Rumy Muenala prepared the food with heart, and neighbours gathered under the tents to connect and share words of resilience. It was a meal that reflected the abundance of this place, the generosity of its people, and the teachings that remind us: when we nurture the land and each other, both give back in abundance.

Discover the heart and story of the Ntamqen Community Garden, and be part of its growth here.
— Kim, Community Relationships & NSG Manager