For the third consecutive year, residents at 琉璃神社鈥檚 Tent City have come together to grow a community garden, that is technically unauthorized.

This unsanctioned vegetable garden, which brings a sense of purpose and pride to those living at Tent City, is at risk of being uprooted due to ongoing bylaw infractions.

The site, which is located beside the Rail Trail, at the intersection of Richter Street and Weddell Place, is a city-maintained encampment for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and is called 鈥楾ent City鈥� by those who live there.

In 琉璃神社, all people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness are required to sleep at Tent City.

Currently, more than 100 people call Tent City home.

For the past three years, some of the people who live at Tent City have taken it upon themselves to dig up the mulch beside the site and plant a vegetable garden.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been working really hard on this,鈥� said Bryan Helber, a resident of Tent City.

The community garden, which is not sanctioned by the city, is situated on a plot of land along the fence that separates the encampment from the Rail Trail.

Helber said that in addition to food, the garden provides residents with pride and purpose because they have something beautiful and productive to work on.

He said that often, when pedestrians walk down the recreational Rail Trail pathway they 鈥渉url insults鈥� at Tent City and its residents. However, since the garden has been in bloom, Helber said pedestrians have been complimenting the plants and their growth.

In the past, Debbie and Garth (last names unknown), former residents of Tent City, spearheaded the gardens as a way to 鈥渂eautify鈥� the area. The couple has since moved on, leaving resident Adam Hillner, better known as A.J. to step up and take charge of the garden.

READ MORE: Beautifying tent city: Resident providing fresh food through community garden

A.J., along with his Tent City neighbours have planted a variety of vegetables that have been donated by members of the community, including leafy greens, potatoes, peppers and tomatoes.

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While the garden contravenes city bylaw and is on city-owned property, the vegetable plot has been allowed to grow in past years.

According to A.J., bylaw officers have recently raised issue with some aspects of the garden, including the irrigation system he installed which pumps water from the nearby Mill Creek, and have threatened to put an end to the current garden.

A.J. claimed, he was told by a bylaw that all plants would have to be uprooted by June 5, as only potted plants that could be moved during the site鈥檚 regular deep cleans would be allowed moving forward.

The prospect of losing the garden has caused many of Tent City鈥檚 residents to become upset and frustrated. Tent City resident Casey Rae drafted a petition to preserve the garden which has garnered approximately 50 signatures.

On June 4, Bylaw services manager Kevin Mead told Capital News that for the time being the plants do not need to be uprooted. However, he said residents must be respectful of the site鈥檚 rules.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a give and take,鈥� said Mead.

Tom Wilson, media relations manager for the City of 琉璃神社, said that with the recent expansion of the garden, and more significant infrastructure that has come along with it, the city is concerned that it could 鈥渆ncourage an entrenched encampment of people who want to stay there, rather than move into transitional housing.鈥�

He said entrenched encampments pose significant health, safety and security risks for both the residents and those living in neighbouring communities.

鈥淭he temporary nature of the outdoor site means the city cannot allow the introduction of enhanced infrastructure or more permanent features,鈥� said Wilson.

Enhanced infrastructure, such as the water pump that A.J. has been using to irrigate the garden with water from Mill Creek, or soil delivery that was donated to the plot are examples of the permanent features that is concerning the city.

A.J. has since agreed to not use the pump system but told Capital News it is difficult to properly irrigate the plants since there is no running water at Tent City.

Ensuring access to running water has been an ongoing challenge for more than two years since the tap was installed in 2021 due to repeated bouts of vandalism, said Wilson.

The drinking tap was last operational in October of last year, but due to damage, the city has refrained from repairing the spigot until a vandalism-proof system is available.

In the meantime, Tent City residents have been relying on the creek water for both their hydration and irrigation needs.

Wilson said, currently the city is working on an 鈥渋mproved model for water,鈥� which would be comprised of two heavy-duty, easily serviceable and winterized spigots that he stated should be installed within the next few weeks.

While a solution to the water problem might be on the horizon, the city is scheduling another routine clean-up for Tent City on June 5.

Wilson said bylaw, 鈥渃annot ensure in-ground gardens can be protected,鈥� during the cleaning and re-organization.