Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park, Westdale

Ontario College of Health and Technology
1040 South Service Road, Stoney Creek

Community stewardship of the Apothecary's Garden and the Plant Lover's Garden in the Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park Westdale, in Hamilton Ontario St.

The Teaching Gardens are located behind the Aviary in Churchill Park, Westdale. The gardens were originally built by the RBG Auxillary, but had been suffering from years of neglect. Beginning in the fall of 2010, volunteers donated time and muscle to dismantling what was left of the old Herb Garden and getting the new one in place and partially planted before winter. Hundreds of stones from the ol

d paths and beds were excavated by hand and saved for new garden walls. Useful plants that had not succumbed to years of neglect and invasive weeds were set aside, then cleaned of weeds and planted in the new garden. City crews removed a foot of root infested soil, tilled the new bed areas, and supplied us with the many yards of pathway screenings, landscape cloth, and topsoil that we needed. Their input and support for the project is much appreciated. This season’s goals are to complete the planting, build decorative drystack walls with the stone we removed last year, organize a system of markers for plant identification, and a new sign for the entrance. There is an option of having the plant markers linked to a website which would provide in-depth information about each specimen plant, its current and historical uses and applications both medicinally and culinarily, as well as the fascinating myths, magic, and folklore that are associated with many plants. These developments signal an exciting return of the Teaching Gardens’ original interpretive function, maintaining the gardens original concept as a teaching garden and a place of education. The Teaching Gardens have been part of our community for many years. They were originally established by the RBG Auxiliary to teach children and youth the basics of agriculture through the cultivation of fruit trees, including the espaliered crab apple trees that still survive, and the garden plots which now form the community gardens. With this in mind, the Herb Garden was originally planted mainly with aromatic and culinary specimens, plants that were common in most households many years ago such as Parsley, Rosemary and Sage. Today, there is increased public awareness of the medicinal properties plants as well. John’s Wort, Echinacea, Calendula, and Lavender are becoming common household names and familiar to many people today. We felt that the revitalization of the Herb Garden needed to recognize this new awareness through an expanded mandate, and thus the Apothecary garden was born. Featuring cultivated specimens of culinary, aromatic, and medicinal plants both new and familiar, it can be a valuable educational resource and compliment to the existing food production focus, as well as an educational and symbolic link to the many native medicinal, edible, and aromatic plants found nearby in the Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary. Future plans also include the revitalization of the handsome, walled Plant Lover’s Garden, with its ponds and rock gardens, which was a later addition by the RBG Auxiliary to showcase micro-climates, and the rare and unusual plants that thrive under different conditions.

-Dan Riegler

For more information, please contact Dan Riegler at [email protected], or Mary Louise Pigott at [email protected].

06/20/2025

Herbal First Aid Workshop For the Family

Discover herbal allies and learn how to harvest and use plantain, yarrow, and calendula to naturally soothe bug bites, bee stings, and minor wounds.
Learn how to:
- Make a Plantain poultice for bug bites and bee stings
- Collect and dry Yarrow for treating small wounds
- Collect calendula to make an infused first aid oil
- Make a Mugwort infused oil to take home for small wounds and skin irritations

This is an educational event on different herbs and their histories of uses. We will discuss some folk, traditional and modern-day uses for herbs that you can find in your own back yard and use in first aid situations. Learn how to identify, harvest and work with plantain, yarrow, Mugwort and calendula.

When: Saturday June 28th 2025
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
FREE

Spots are limited, please only attend if you have registered.
https://forms.gle/wo68qvWvVBNKL2cQ6

This event is Sponsored by the TD Park People / Ami·es des parcs

Please note I am a Herbalist student and Registered Holistic Nutritionist. I am not a licensed medical professional. The information provided in my workshops are intended to support your overall health and wellness and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

09/29/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/XL8jX3iPv5LdE7SL/?mibextid=xfxF2i

09/18/2024

OK. THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL!!
Please keep your eyes open for an online version this winter.

Join me in the Apothecary's Garden at the Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park, Westdale', for a free incense-making workshop.
Learn how to craft incense pastilles, loose incense, cone and stick incense and incense trails.
In a hands-on workshop, you will experience a wide range of classic incense materials from around the world and go home with your own creation.
Materials and tools provided.
Participants will receive a special discount code for www.apothecarysgarden.com
Space is LIMITED.
Sunday, September 29, from 2-4PM.
85 Oak Knoll Drive by the old Aviary
Please email Julia to RSVP at [email protected]

Photos from Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park, Westdale's post

09/16/2024

Dreamy fall garden shots taken with a vintage East German lens from the 1950's. Combining the Zen of gardening and the creativity of photography. With New England Asters and Bumble Bees.

09/04/2024

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06/23/2024

06/14/2024

Some late spring Garden shots

05/29/2024

Some more garden pics. Some vintage lenses when mounted on a digital camera can create unusual and pleasing effects under the right conditions.

05/27/2024

Here are some shots I took in the Apothecary's garden located at the teaching gardens in Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park, Westdale. I will be there every other Wednesday starting the 29 of May, 9;30 till noon, until July. Meet me there if you want to lend a hand in the garden or have a question for me. Volunteers are always needed!

05/22/2024

Garden, Teas and Dialogue.
Tea with new and old Canadians: exploring diverse Canadian relationships to the land.
Dan Riegler and myself will lead a dialogue with Fatima Ahmed and Abdo Habbani, recent immigrants from Sudan, about how are we in relationship with the land of colonial Canada, and how can we honor the treaties we are a part of as residents/citizens of Canada. Traditional Sudanese tea will be served as will herbal teas grown at the Apothecary's garden. Everyone is welcome. Please share this invitation.
On Saturday, Jun 15 from 4PM to 7PM, admission is FREE
Join us at the Apothecary's Garden, 85 Oak knoll Dr. - come through the black fence.

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245 Emerald St N
Hamilton, ON
L8L5L1

Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park, Westdale

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