From Racetrack to Regeneration – Building Soil, Restoring Resilience

Compost from the District of North Saanich. Together we're building a foundation for a healthy future.

It’s hard to believe that the land at Sandown was once a racetrack. Years of compaction left the soil depleted, hardened, and biologically quiet. But in just a few short seasons, thanks to the work of farmers, stewards, and researchers, the soil building story is changing, one compost pile at a time.

Research has always been a core part of the work at Sandown. In past seasons, our soils were studied by PhD Candidate E. Brooke Hayes of the UVic EcoGastronomy Lab. Brooke’s research helped us understand just how degraded the land was when we started in 2021, and also how quickly it can be revitalized with the right inputs and care.

Sandown Spring 2025: Sheep integration is key to healthy soil practices.

Together, we built biologically active compost piles and brewed the finished compost into teas and extracts using our trusty compost bubbler. These teas were then applied by farmers directly onto their fields to help increase microbial life, improve soil structure, and restore organic matter. Brooke’s work tracked changes in the soil’s biology, texture, and nutrient profile over time—and in just three years, the improvements have been remarkable.

Though Brooke isn’t onsite this year, her contributions have laid the groundwork for how we continue to monitor and support the health of the land. Regeneration is, after all, an ongoing relationship. And Sandown continues to serve as a living lab where restoration is practiced daily.

Sandown's Community Garden: Spring 2025

Want to see it for yourself? We host everyone from school groups and garden clubs to ministry leaders, municipalities, and curious kids. To request a tour, just email us at info@sandowncentre.com. We’d love to walk you through the fields and tell you more about what’s growing beneath the surface.

Restoring soil takes time. But the signs of health are already visible in the increased yields, the softer ground, the presence of life, and the deeper understanding we’re cultivating with each season. Sandown is a reminder that when we care for soil, we care for the future.

New this year: Sandown Farmer's Market! Wednesdays from 4PM to 7PM