A Day at Sandown – Where Regeneration Meets Community

Smiley farmers and friends :)

There’s a kind of magic in the air at Sandown—you feel it the moment you arrive. On Monday, May 26th, I stopped by for a visit and was reminded, yet again, why this place is such a vibrant hub for regenerative agriculture, community learning, and ecological restoration.

Sandown is home to a growing network of farmers, each tending to their own ½ acre plots. Some are just getting started, others bring years of experience, but all are committed to growing food and stewarding land with care. You'll find flower farms, produce galore, and even community gardeners planting fig trees. It was one of those perfect spring days—flowers blooming and the occasional hum of airplanes from the nearby Victoria Airport grounding you in the landscape.

During my visit, I witnessed volunteers jumping in alongside Executive Director Emily and Co-Op student Teale, spreading compost donated by the District of North Saanich onto the latest addition - the 1 acre Sandown Farm. This expansion means more room to grow local food for school meal programs and act as a site for educational programming—and that’s no small thing in a time where we need more access to fresh, affordable, climate-resilient produce.

I also chatted with Corey’s father of Testbed Farm, who was tending to the land while Corey was off at his full-time job as a landscaper. Rows of strawberries, garlic scapes, and brassicas were thriving under his care—a touching reminder of the intergenerational support that keeps this work moving.

Matthew, Sandown's Stewardship Manager, recently completed his research toward a PhD in agroecology and has been quietly doing incredible work restoring the ecological balance of the site—strategically keeping invasive bullfrogs and non-migratory Canada Geese at bay in ways that work for both the land and the creatures who call it home.

Radish harvest from Headwind Farm.

Each farmer at Sandown is responsible for marketing and distributing their harvest. You’ll find Sandown-grown food at the North Saanich Market on Saturdays or the Esquimalt Market on Thursdays. New this year is the Sandown farmer’s market every Wednesday from 4 - 7pm. Come on down to the Sandown Centre to support new and young farmers!

At the heart of it all is Emily, who somehow manages to do it all—supporting farmers, coordinating compost and irrigation logistics, managing community garden spaces, troubleshooting compact soil and pest issues, and planning for growth, even with limited storage space and infrastructure. Her leadership and deep care for this land and the people on it are a huge reason why this place thrives.

Sure, we dream of more infrastructure—like better storage and proper washrooms—and we’re always hoping for more rain. But for now, we have a vibrant start to the season, a passionate group of regenerative farmers and land stewards, and a whole lot of heart.

Every visit to Sandown is a reminder that this is more than just farmland. It’s a living example of what’s possible when people come together to grow food, restore ecosystems, and build community from the ground up.

Do you like road trips? Take a trip to Sandown on Sunday, July 6th! The City of Victoria’s Recreation Bus is heading to Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture on July 6th from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM—hop on for a hands-on tour of our working farm! Explore community gardens, meet our incubator farmers, and learn how we’re restoring soil and ecosystems through regenerative practices. Get your hands dirty weeding, harvesting, and tasting fresh veggies while connecting with the land. Register here: https://www.victoria.ca/parks-recreation/recreation/activities-registration and don’t forget to bring a hat, snack, and your best gardening questions! Written by Sammy Davies, Board Member of the Circular Farm and Food Society