Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society

Photograph © Cindy Buis

Gibsons Garden Club

Contact: John Lockwood, President: 604-886-3143 or email

Activities: The club meets the third Wednesday of the month at Frank West Hall on Chaster Road in Gibsons, 7 pm. There are guest speakers at the monthly meetings, tours to local and distant gardens, interclub with Powell River and Bowen Island Garden Clubs, plant sales in April and October and other events too numerous to mention. The club's annual membership fee is $10.00 and we have about 150 members.

Sechelt Garden Club

Contacts: June Meyer, President: 604-885-7996 or email

Web Site: Sechelt Garden Club

Activities: The club meets on the last Monday of each month (except December, July and August), 7:30 pm at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt, at 5790 Sunshine Coast Highway. Activities include monthly meetings with speakers, spring and fall plant sales, summer garden tours, garden-oriented trips to the Lower Mainland, and a Christmas luncheon.

Pender Harbour Garden Club

Contact: Barbara Kappeli: 604-883-0587 or email

Web Site: Pender Harbour Garden Club

Activities: Meetings are held the 2nd Monday of every month, except December, January and February. Membership dues are $10.00 per year. The club arranges its own garden tours; any spaces left are made available to non-members that may be interested. For updated tour information, please contact Barbara Kappeli.

The club holds a big plant sale on May Day each year and sponsors the Harvest Fair in the fall.

Powell River Garden Club

Contacts: Diane Lackey, President: 604-487-0642 or email

"Life begins the day you start a garden"... Chinese proverb

Do you have a growing interest in gardening? The Powell River Garden Club invites you to attend their meetings held every 4th Tuesday of the month, September through June inclusive. Meetings are held at Trinity Hall, United Church, corner of Duncan St. and Michigan Ave., 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7:00 p.m.)

The club offers you the opportunity to meet with others and share ideas, enjoy guest speakers and presentations on topics pertaining to the world of gardening, participate in local garden tours, community events, out-of-town excursions and occasional workshops. There is a nominal annual membership fee.

"You don't need a green thumb or be 'an expert' to join our club or have a garden -- remember, even a pot of soil will allow you to grow with us. All levels welcome; a good way for 'new to town' or 'new to gardening' to meet and socialize with community residents."

One Straw Society

Postal Address: One Straw Society, c/o 1732 Pell Road, Roberts Creek, BC V0N 2W1

Contact: Robin Wheeler: 604-885-4505 or email

Web Site: One Straw Society

One Straw was created in 1994 in an attempt to bring like-minded individuals together, to strengthen support for existing sustainable programs, and to combat the sense of isolation that many local gardeners were feeling. We average around 60 members, about half of those being lifetime members. Our charter:

To support and encourage healthy environmental practices on the Sunshine Coast.
To support the growth of sustainable agriculture on previously developed land.
To encourage proper use and expansion of the Agricultural Land Reserve.
To support and encourage self-sufficiency in individuals and small businesses by sharing information and resources.
To encourage the purchase of local produce and related products.

One Straw mails out a quarterly newsletter to keep members in touch with each other's endeavours and problems and to share ideas and discuss ongoing projects. We have an on-line bulletin board for ads, and a library of books and videos. We field many questions every year from new gardeners, and connect members with others who can help them in their gardens. We host the annual Seedy Saturday, have thrown country fairs, a 'Sustainable Food' month, occasional workshops, and are establishing a mentoring program for new gardeners.

Sargeant Bay Society

Postal Address: Box 1486, Sechelt, BC, V0N 3A0

Contact: Joop Burgerjon: 604-885-9308 or email

Web Site: Sargeant Bay Society

Stewardship for Sargeant Bay watershed. Promotes protections of the natural habitat around Sargeant Bay.

Sunshine Coast Conservation Association

Postal Address: Box 1969, Sechelt, BC, V0N3A0.

Contact: Dan Bouman: or email

Web Site: Sunshine Coast Conservation Association

The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association is a regional umbrella group that was established in 1997 for the purpose of assisting local conservation advocacy groups to reach their goals as well as to address major regional conservation and environment issues. The SCCA, in concert with its 16 member groups, has been working effectively on environmental issues since its inception. Our mission is to preserve the natural biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast region for the present and future benefit of humanity and all life. Specifically, to:

Conduct research to inventory and describe our remaining natural areas with the goal of identifying land and waters important for the preservation of biodiversity.
Work to retain such lands and waters in a natural state and make them available for public enjoyment where possible.
Raise public environmental and conservation awareness by sponsoring educational programs and workshops and by building access infrastructure for low impact recreation.

Sunshine Coast Natural History Society

Postal Address: Box 543, Sechelt, BC, V0N 3A0

Contact: Tony Greenfield: 604-885-5539 or email

Web Site: Sunshine Coast Natural History Society

A naturalist society that manages the Sechelt Marsh. Holds meetings first Friday of every month with guest speakers and film shows. Publishes monthly newsletter.