Seneca News

Forest garden at Seneca inspires students to lead 

Project funded by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and WWF-Canada

May 20, 2022

A community forest garden is growing at Seneca’s King Campus, thanks to a grant from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and WWF-Canada’s Go Wild School Grant program.

The project is led by Daniel Mack, a student in the Environmental Landscape Management diploma program.

“A forest garden is a perennial garden composed of trees, shrubs and ground covers,” he said. “It develops over time, requiring little maintenance as the plants mature and self-propagate. It is a wide-spread agricultural practice that can have wide-ranging cultural and environmental benefits.”

The forest garden will allow students like Mr. Mack to be involved in the planning, installation and maintenance of the site, providing a full-cycle horticultural experience.

A group of volunteers will maintain the site and, in collaboration with First Peoples@Seneca, provide training and workshops to other students at Seneca and community members.

Some of the trees and shrubs will bear fruit, and the garden will incorporate Indigenous ways of learning to include herbs and other edible plants.

“Everyone involved will be able to gain hands-on experience caring for the land,” said Don Forster, Director of Seneca’s Office of Sustainability. “This green space will improve sustainability by providing food to be harvested by students and then used in the school’s cafeterias or donated to the student food bank.”

The project is currently underway and scheduled to be completed by November 2022. 


Sustainability is infused in all of Seneca’s academic offerings and research. Grounded in diverse perspectives and experiences, and informed by Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, Seneca’s sustainability plan offers more meaningful and immersive experiences for students and employees to build a sustainable future.

To learn more about how you can support sustainability at Seneca, contact advancement@senecapolytechnic.ca.