Maloca Community Garden brings campus and community together in urban agriculture. Maloca is a space for all members of the University community to experience – from growing their own food, to contributing to healthy biodiversity, to holding outdoor events, and to enjoying a great setting for teaching and research.
The garden supports individuals who lack access to land for growing, and want to build skills and knowledge in gardening, strive to raise awareness of food security or simply want to develop community connections.
Come Grow with us!
Communal Growing Fields
We tend a half an acre using regenerative growing principles, to address food security needs, learn about sustainable organic farming and regenerate healthy soils and biodiversity in the area.
Small Plot Gardens
Late February is when a call goes out for applications to garden a small plot for the upcoming season. Applicants are notified mid to late March of acceptance. Let us know if you’d like to apply. Send a message to maloca@yorku.ca.
Native Plant Garden Walk
Visiting this little walk through of the Native Plant Garden right in front of HNES Building. We want you to engage with the information it holds. Look for the signs, have a read and look for signs of life all around you!
NEW at Maloca Gardens 2025-2026:
Deluxe Log observable sensory nest log for wild solitary bees & wasps (by Sarah Peebles)
“Deluxe Log” contemplates the myriad forms of life supported by deadwood and plant stems – especially nest habitat required by many solitary-nesting native bees and solitary wasps…Open the log, put on the headphones, take a magnifying lens and look up close while you listen: who is nesting, competing, “invading”, resting, pupating, and investigating the tunnels and cracks within the Deluxe Log before you?
Viewing/listening schedule inquiries can be sent to Phyllis Novak, Director, Maloca Living Labs – Community and Native Plant Gardens, York University: maloca@yorku.ca
Directions
The Maloca Community Garden is a site for outdoor environmental education and hands-on environmental stewardship. We encourage professors to use the Maloca Community Garden to explore topics such as native plants and pollinators, urban regenerative agriculture, agricultural innovation, food sovereignty, food justice and climate change.
CONTACT US to use the garden to foster experiential learning opportunities into courses and research. We welcome students who would like to conduct course research at the garden.
The Garden’s History
Located on York University’s Keele campus, the Maloca Community Garden features about 2,000 square feet devoted to both individual and communal plots for growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers according to the principles of organic agriculture.
The garden’s name – Maloca – comes from the multi-family long houses built near the banks of the Amazon River. At the centre of each house is a communal, spiritual meeting place, and the garden’s name reflects our group’s desire to create a sense of community.
The Maloca Community Garden was founded by Angela Simone and Karen Okamoto in 1999. Alongside other Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change students, they paved the way for the Maloca Community Garden to provide York University and the surrounding North York community the unique opportunity to grow and harvest food in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
The garden offers plenty of opportunities to attend workshops, learn about gardening, volunteer, plant, harvest, build relationships, give back to the community and, of course, socialize! Absolutely no experience is necessary – just an enthusiasm for getting outdoors and promoting environmentally friendly practices.
How to Get Involved
Book a Plot
Are you looking for a way to get outside, be active and grow your own food? Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
Please apply in this Google form to join the waiting list.
Visit or Host an Event
The Maloca Community Garden is located at the south western edge of the Keele campus along the Black Creek Watershed. You can enjoy time with others in the gardens.
CONTACT US to tour the premises.
Teach in the Garden
The Maloca Community Garden is dedicated to acting as a sight that encourages environmental education and environmental stewardship. We encourage professors to use the Maloca Community Garden to explore topics such as native plants and pollinators, urban agriculture, agricultural innovation, urban greenification, food sovereignty and climate change.
CONTACT US to use the garden to foster experiential learning opportunities. We also welcome students who would like to conduct research at the garden.
