A field school with cultural and educational learning opportunities will soon add rain gardens and an Indigenous food forest after a joint investment of $145,000 from the federal government and the Cheakamus Foundation for Environmental Learning.
The Chʼiyáḵmesh forest and rain gardens project are being developed at Cheakamus Centre, an overnight environmental education facility situated on the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Surrounded by 165 hectares of nature preserve in the heart of the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, the Cheakamus campus offers a unique setting for education and ecological restoration.
The rain gardens will collect stormwater runoff from the overnight cabins to restore, enhance and better protect the rich natural environment. Containing native plants, rocks and specialized soil, the rain gardens will filter pollutants from the water, reduce flooding, attract pollinators, and provide habitat and food for insects, birds and other wildlife. Interpretive signage and a dedicated outdoor learning space support community education, with instructors and students from BC Institute of Technology's School of Construction and the Environment contributing to the design and installation.
The food forest will include multiple layers, such as canopy trees, shrubs, herbs, groundcovers, roots, and vines that will work together to provide food, medicine, and habitat. The food forest will be a low-maintenance, self-sustaining natural space with interpretative signage for students and visitors to learn about and appreciate nature, as well as revitalize traditional food and land-based knowledge.
