Plant Gifts to Community
Each year, EYA youth pour kindness, curiosity, and love into growing thousands of native plants in our Downtown Eastside nursery. These plants are gifted to our community by request each spring.
Who Can Request Plants?
Indigenous-led garden projects across the Lower Mainland region
Black-led garden projects across the Lower Mainland region
Public schools based in East Vancouver
Community groups based in East Vancouver
How to Request Plants
Submission deadline: Sunday April 28 @ 11:59PM
To request plants, review the plant list and fill out the request form below. We offer up to 40 plants per organization, depending on the number of requests we receive. More plants may be available to groups managing multiple projects, so feel welcome to request more. Late requests may be accepted depending on availability. Once you have submitted your request, our Sites and Stewardship Manager will contact you to confirm plant availability and pick up time.
Available pick-up times:
- Tuesday May 21, 1-6 pm
- Thursday May 23, 1-6 pm
- Saturday May 25, 10-4 pm
- Sunday May 26, 10-4 pm
- Tuesday May 28, 1-6 pm
Looking for plants for your backyard or balcony or for projects beyond the scope of Plant Gifts for Community? Native plant bundles for home gardeners will be available to pre-order through our Native Plant Fundraiser in April.
Pick-Up Location and Times
Plants can be collected from EYA’s nursery in Strathcona Community Gardens at 759 Malkin Avenue. Pick up will be offered during the following dates/times:
- Tuesday May 21, 1-6 pm
- Thursday May 23, 1-6 pm
- Saturday May 25, 10-4 pm
- Sunday May 26, 10-4 pm
- Tuesday May 28, 1-6 pm
Native Plant Care and Health
Before placing your order, we encourage you to understand the unique growing needs of each plant. To support the health of these plant relations, it’s important to know whether you have the space and resources to meet their needs. If you need to grow your plant knowledge, below are some suggested resources:
- Workshops led by local Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and herbalists
- Eflora BC
- Satinflower Nurseries
- Prairie Moon Nursery
- Fire Effects Information System (USDA) (search by scientific name)
- Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Pojar & Mackinnon
Ways to Give Back
There are several ways you can give back to support our work:
Japanese Beetle Information
Our plant nursery is located within the Japanese beetle restriction zone. We work closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure our practices stay in compliance with regulations to prevent the spread of this invasive insect. As a precaution, we’re required to record the address(es) of the final destination of each individual plant. This information is collected through the request form.
Have Questions? Let’s Connect
Jess Duncan
Manager, Sites & Stewardship
(She/Her)
Help Youth Care for the Environment
We value every gift equally.
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