Beaconsfield Park Food Forest Session with Leona Brown

The Beaconsfield Food Forest is a community-engaged natural space tended by volunteers. Come & forage with us, enjoy time outside together!

Join facilitators Leona Brown and Maria Preoteasa to learn about food forests, refine our vision for the site's future, enjoy ripe berries, and connect with other foragers in the community. We'll also work with the land by removing invasive dock, blackberries, and other plants to make room for a diversity of food and medicine plants.

At Food Forest stewardship sessions, we'll tend the food forest while we discuss our connection to the land. We will learn about the importance of food sovereignty through stewardship of native plant ecosystems and the roles of a food forest in a community.

At many of these gatherings, we forage for edible plants, taste them, and learn about their traditional uses!

• Leona Brown is the lead Facilitator and Indigenous Advisor for the Beaconsfield Park Food Forest. She is a Gitxsan and Nisga’a mother of 3 children, of the Fireweed House and the Killerwhale Clan. Leona is an Indigenous Independent Cultural Facilitator and an Indigenous Co-Creator for the Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation.
• Maria Preoteasa (she/her) is an uninvited settler from Romania living, working and playing on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. Her work with Still Moon supports community stewardship initiatives, food forest programming, and youth-led projects. She volunteers as the Co-Vice President of the Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation and, previously, led the creation of SFU’s Food Forest Outdoor Learning Space.

Event Summary

• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
• Time: 4:00 - 6:30 PM
• Location: Beaconsfield Park Food Forest () is located between the new wetland and the Italian Cultural Centre.
• This is a free event. Donations are appreciated.

Be Prepared

• This event is best for those age 14+, but all ages are welcome. Young children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty & sturdy closed-toed shoes
• Bring a full water bottle
• Snacks will be provided, as well as some foraged edible plants.
• Tools will be provided. Feel free to bring some if you have them (gardening gloves, hand trowels, knee pads/mat to kneel on if you have one)
• There are 12 sessions this year. You can choose to attend one or all of the sessions; that's up to you!

Accessibility

• The Beaconsfield Food Forest is located between the new wetland and Italian Cultural Centre at Beaconsfield Park. It is accessed by a gravel path. Wheelchairs may require assistance on the uneven ground.
• Washrooms are available onsite.
• If you need help getting to the site or have other questions about accessibility, please email [email protected].
• This event will include a range of activities, including some that are less labour-intensive, like discussion, berry picking & preparation, and enjoying the beautiful wetland.

Getting There

• Parking in the area is limited. We recommend walking, bicycling, public transit or carpooling to get to the event.
• Beaconsfield Park is a 10-minute walk from Renfrew Skytrain Station, a 15-minute walk from Nanaimo Skytrain Station, or a short walk from the #7 or #16 bus routes

Still Moon Arts Society mobilizes community and creates positive change through eco-arts and environmental stewardship programming, and produces the annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival. Still Moon is a registered charity whose mission is to inspire vibrant and connected communities by creating artistic experiences and nurturing a passion for nature.