The OPIRG McMaster Community Garden grows on the traditional territory shared between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Anishinabe nations. We are grateful to the traditional inhabitants of the lands for hosting us and recognize our responsibility, as guests, to respect and honour the intimate relationship Indigenous peoples have to this land. 

What we do: 

The OPIRG Community Garden is an urban garden project under the McMaster OPIRG organization and is managed by a committee of students and faculty members. The garden is an open space for students, faculty, staff, and community members to access fresh produce and learn about gardening. Anyone is welcome to sign-up to volunteer at the garden, attend workshops, or drop by to pick some greens for decorating their lunch.

The garden is also supported by the McMaster Facility Services and McMaster’s Okanagan Committee and collaborates with McMaster’s FCC and Student Wellness Centre to promote sustainable food practices.

Our Vision: 

Our vision is that McMaster’s campus will have a welcoming and thriving garden space where folks in need of fresh produce can access it, and all members of the McMaster community can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening as well as grow a deeper connection with nature. 

Our Goals: 

• To bring people of all backgrounds (students, faculty, staff, Hamilton community, etc.) to foster new relationships with each other and the land.
• To contribute to food security by growing food for the local community fridges, food banks, and other food security initiatives. 
• To provide an accessible and educational space for the McMaster community to participate in gardening and attend workshops and events on sustainable food production practices.
• To promote healthy food production and local, regional, national, and global food security and sovereignty.