Community Garden Sanctuaries
At Gardyn-Doulah, Community Garden Sanctuaries turn underused green spaces into forest classrooms, food-growing areas, and places for neighbors to gather.
Each sanctuary is designed to care for the soil, support plants and wildlife, and help people connect with the land and each other. These spaces show how communities can grow food and build hope together.
Our goal is to create a network of regenerative gardens across neighborhoods & schools—places where people and nature can thrive side by side.
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The Beech Forest Grove is the first Community Garden Sanctuary being created in Swansfield Park, Columbia. This project is turning a small wooded area into a place where people can learn, reflect, and care for the land together.
Centered around “Grandma Tree,” a 300-year-old ancient Beech Tree. The grove will be restored with native plants, pollinator habitats, and natural ground covers to support healthy soil and water retention.
Paths will invite neighbors, families, and students to explore and help care for the space. The grove will also serve as a hands-on classroom, showing how thoughtful land care can turn neglected spaces into thriving ecosystems.
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Learning Opportunities
Join us for Volunteer Days through the Weed Warrior program, where we’ll work together to mulch, and remove invasive species, as it evolves into a thriving ecosystem. Each visit offers something new to discover—from native woodland plants to pollinator species and edible understory herbs.
We’ll also be hosting a series of donation-based workshops on topics like native plant identification, soil health, and regenerative design. These sessions invite participants to learn by doing—helping care for the land while gaining skills to bring back to their own gardens and communities.
Community Sanctuary Garden Volunteer Workdays
Join us for upcoming volunteer workdays as we care for and restore the Community Sanctuary Garden. These sessions will focus on invasive plant removal, an important step in supporting the health and resilience of this shared space.
Upcoming Dates:
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January 22 | 10:00–12:00 PM — Invasive removal
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February 26 | 10:00–12:00 PM — Invasive removal
All experience levels are welcome. Come ready to work, learn, and contribute to the care of this garden sanctuary.