Promoting and encouraging local food security through education and conversation. Come visit our public garden space at the McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan St. in Parksville BC
PQB Fruit Tree Project is a Parksville / Qualicum non-profit organization committed to identifying and making use of our local food sources, including fruit trees and gardens, and distributing them to our local community. Through our MAC Community Garden, a 4000 square foot public garden, we help teach and inspire local citizens to grow more food.
We broke ground on the Community Garden in March 2023. We incorporate fruit trees and berries, hydroponics, a 16 by 20 BC Greenhouse, traditional raised beds, a food forest, and demonstration compost and compost tea stations.
In 2024, we grew, gleaned and distributed 2000 free seedlings, 1000 units of produce, and 2500 pounds of local fruit. This year, we aim to double that total. For more information, visit the garden or email pq******@***il.com. We are generally open from 10:00 ish to 6:00 ish, 7 days a week.
It’s been a big week for us and we’re happy to announce a bunch of exciting gardening workshops coming up in February and March.
First, don’t forget our Fruit Tree Pruning workshop with Connie Kuramoto, Feb 6th or 8th from 1 pm to 2:30 at the Arrowsmith Lodge Heritage Orchard. Connie is a fantastic presenter and has offered this class for us the past number of years, it’s a proven winner. Click here for Friday or here for Sunday‘s class
Next will be a Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop Feb 28th at 1 pm, with Katie Janeway from Denman Island Heritage Apples. Katie is a regional orchard expert and she’ll teach us proper fruit tree grafting tools and methods in a small class setting. There will be hands-on training showing various techniques, with plenty of practice material on-hand. Tickets are $35. plus Eventbrite fees. Click here for registration.
After that will be Soil Building 101, on March 5 from 6:30-8:00, a new workshop developed for us by Al Chomica, local soil guru and whisperer. He’s going to explore soil health and soil building techniques and concepts, including composting, bokashi, humus, living microbes biochar and much more. Intended for beginner and intermediate soil stewards, Al puts on a fantastic workshop, and will fill you with knowledge you can put into practice in your garden. Click here for the class registration.
Finally, Michalina Hunter from Cicada Seeds is back with her Perennial Vegetables Workshop, March 12 from 6:30-8:00 Michalina is a local Errington seed saver, grower and distributor, and she’ll explore the how, why and which of incorporating perennial vegetables into your garden. Perennial vegetable advantages include: less work, more resilient, store more carbon, fill the early spring Hunger Gap, preserve soil health, and then some. Go here for your tickets.
Join Master Gardener and educator Connie Kuramoto at the Arrowsmith Lodge Heritage Orchard. You’ll learn about proper tools and techniques to help maintain and maximize the health and yields of your fruit trees. Choose either Friday Feb 6th or Sunday Feb 8th at 1 pm. Tickets are $25, follow the Eventbrite links to reserve your spot.
Note, we always retain a couple workshops admissions for anyone limited by funds, please just send us a dm so we can accommodate you.
We’ve had a fantastic 2025 growing season, and the time has come to put the garden to bed for a brief time, and reflect on everything we enjoyed and accomplished in our third year at the MAC Community Garden. Maybe even update our website. Who knows
Welcome to the Pumpkin Carving Party! Join us for a spooktacular time at 133 McMillan St. in the MAC Community Garden. Bring your creativity and carving skills to create the most boo-tiful pumpkin masterpiece. Whether you’re a carving pro or a first-timer, this event is perfect for everyone. Pumpkins will be provided as supplies last. If you can, please donate by purchasing a ticket. Let’s get into the Halloween spirit together. See you there!
Saturday Oct 4, 10:00 am. The theme of fall orchard care is “what to do now to improve orchard health for next year”. To break that down a bit further the workshop will cover what you can plant, weed, apply, and plan to do to your trees now, as organically, as possible to reduce pests and disease pressure next year and set your trees up for success.
Friday Oct 3, 7:00-9:00 pm. Set the mood for spooky season with some spooky stories! We will gather in the garden and listen to tales told by master storytellers from the Mid Island Story Tellers Association. Hot apple cider will be available! Everyone is welcome but please note that the stories may contain mature content. Tickets are by donation. All fundraising proceeds will help sustain the garden as a space for growing food, connection, and community in Parksville and Qualicum. Reserve your seat and donate here.
We’re deep into fruit picking season right now, but we still have time to organize fun social and educational events.
First off, September 20 will see our annual Apple Festival and Harvest Swap. We’ll have our own hot apple cider on tap, apple desserts, an Apple Pie contest and a live piano players. It’s a celebration of a wonderful growing season. We encourage gardeners and farmers to bring their excess produce to share and trade with others. Saturday Sept 20 at the MAC Community Garden, 3:30-7:30 pm
This is the busiest time of the year in the garden and in life, but we realize it’s been 3 months since our last update. Unfortunately, Facebook is still the quickest, easiest way to keep updated.
We are deep into fruit picking and processing season. As of today, Sept 2, we’ve picked and shared 2450 pounds of local fruit.
Just to keep you up to date on the Community Garden as of June 3, 2025.
We’re picking food and giving away food every day, mostly lettuce, kale, chard, green onions and herbs. The peas are in flower. Lots of bees in the raspberries. Tomatoes and squash are still in the greenhouse, thanks to a cool and damp spring. Our permaculture food forest is establishing itself nicely. Other fruit trees are also getting used to their new homes after we planted them early this spring.
The garden piano has been moved outside for the season, and we’re gearing up for a Strawberry Social and Piano Party on June 10th, from 11 am – 1 pm.
Enjoy this gallery of photos, which should take the place of 1000s of words. Better yet, come for a visit, we’re at 133 McMillan St. in Parksville, BC.
