Maloca Community Gardens brings campus and community together in regenerative urban agriculture. We grow together in small community gardens plots and two communal fields along the Black Creek Watershed on York U’s Keele campus.
All members of the university and its surrounding community are invited to grow fresh organic foods, native plants and pollinating flowers at Maloca, the Native Plant Garden and in its edible campus popups.
Maloca projects, programs, events, and its teaching and research, celebrate local community gardening and the small farm revolution that works with land.
People, Place and Plants working in a regenerative and reciprocal learning community, can powerfully and artfully address food insecurity and food injustice. We can contribute to sustainability, biodiversity, and be part of restoring health in ecosystems while we also eat and share amazing food that we grow ourselves!
Come Grow with us!
Communal Growing Fields
We’ve created two growing fields since 2023 offering almost half an acre where we learn sustainable organic farming using regenerative and agroecological principles. We center Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, in which permaculture is grounded, as offered by generous Indigenous mentors and guides.
Join our Maloca Earthworks Program from May to November, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-7pm. Just drop in or Sign up to Volunteer.
Community Gardens
Surrounding community, students and staff may apply to garden one of 22 small plots of varying sizes and some shared, for the upcoming season. Apply here or send a message to maloca@yorku.ca.
Deadlines for applications is February 20, 2026. Applicants are notified in early March of acceptance. Applications received after the deadline will go on a waiting list.
Native Plant Garden
This wonderful garden created in 2006 offers an oasis for humans and more-than-humans. Visit this garden walk, look for signs to identify species, and let us know if you want to participate in caring for these lovely beings at maloca@yorku.ca.
Happenings with Maloca
Maloca Makings – begin indoor seed work with us!
Wednesdays, 4-6pm, February 11-April 1, HNES, room 140
Maloca Mood Walks – short walks getting us outside and moving together!
Last Tuesday of each month, January to April
For other activations and ways you can participate add yourself to our WhatsApp chat
Partnerships and Collaborations
Maloca Community Gardens is a living lab stewarded by York’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Maloca is a partner to YorkU’s Office of Sustainability as an initiative of the Biodiversity and Wellbeing strategic area. We’re part of the Food Security Roundtable and are grateful for partnership with the Student Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Centre.
We are grateful for teaching and research collaborations across faculties and programs like Health, Kinesiology, Education, Natural Science, Art, Media, Performance and Design, Social Science and more.
Community Partners and Student Clubs
These partners bring so much to Maloca!
- Afro-Tropical Market Garden Plus (ATMG+)
- Black Environmental Initiative (BEI)
- Many Green Hands student club
- Regenesis York
- OPIRG YorkU
- CMHA Ontario – Mood walks partner
- OASIS Ontario – Soil Regeneration Research Project
Funding support received from:
- TD Friends of the Environment
- SCAP-AWEDI
On Exhibition at Maloca
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 Gardens is a site for outdoor environmental education and hands-on environmental stewardship. We encourage professors to use the Maloca Community Gardens 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 Gardens 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 Gardens 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 Gardens 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 Gardens 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 Gardens is dedicated to acting as a sight that encourages environmental education and environmental stewardship. We encourage professors to use the Maloca Community Gardens 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.
