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The Healing Gardens

The Healing Gardens at Evergreen Brick Works provides a direct connection to nature.

 

The gardens’ revitalization began with an Indigenous youth lead design session aimed at revisioning the three garden mounds at the south entrance of Koerner Gardens through a regenerative lens. Out of this session grew the concept of distinct, yet interconnected, demonstration gardens each with their own story to tell.

 

The revitalization of The Healing Gardens was generously supported by Beanfield, who believe that community is one of humanity’s most powerful inventions.

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To the west, the presence of herbaceous perennials and trees together in the Native Grass and Wildflower mound captures one moment in the constant ecological tug-of-war between meadow and forest. The balance that is maintained here by human activity is in other places determined by natural forces like fire, wildlife disturbance, and land movements. Together the species present here celebrate the diversity of meadow and grassland habitats from across the continent.

 

Plant species include: Hawthorn; Arctic Willow; Mixed native grasses and wildflowers including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Canada Wild Rye, Indiangrass, Anise Hyssop, Coreopsis, Prairie Blazingstar, Pale Coneflower…and many more!

 

The middle mound features lesser-known woody and herbaceous edible plants their role in regenerative agriculture and for their relationship to the Indigenous foodways tradition. Food and medicine producing roots and tubers, vines and berry plantings are supported by innovative irrigation practices and serve as a learning tool to support the transfer of land-based knowledge.

 

Plant species include: Groundnut; Sunchoke; Nanny Berry; Choke Cherry; Elder Berry

 

To the east lies the smallest of the three mounds. This garden features plants endemic to the dry landscapes of the continent’s interior — plants native to desert landscapes, mountain plateaus and rich valleys. It was also chosen to showcase and celebrate the geographic origins of the Three Sisters guild. At the heart of this mound is a celebration and acknowledgement of the movement of these indigenous food plants across Turtle Island and the significance of these living foodways here in the Wonscontonach valley.

 

Plant species include: Prickly Pear; Yucca; Blue False Indigo

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