Sowing Seeds of Sustainability: The Parkside Hotel & Spa Staff Garden Story
Discover how The Parkside Hotel & Spa transformed its rooftop into a vibrant staff garden-fostering sustainability, community, and creativity in the heart of Victoria, BC.
What happens when a hotel rooftop becomes a garden? At The Parkside Hotel & Spa in Victoria, BC, we are turning unused space into a thriving ecosystem - one seed at a time. On May 21st, 2025, we partnered with self-taught-horticultural expert Tasha Medve of The Purposeful You to plant a rooftop Staff Garden that's as nourishing for the community as it is for the environment.
At The Parkside Hotel & Spa, community and sustainability go hand in hand. Our mission is to create a space where staff can connect with nature, learn about sustainable practices, and contribute to a greener future.
Months prior to the planting day, Tasha visited the property to thoughtfully design a thriving garden. She considered the level of sun exposure, our goal to minimize water usage, and the wishes of staff. In an interview with The Parkside Sustainability Team, Tasha explains how she includes pollinators in her plans saying, “A huge part of [sustainable gardening] is to companion plant.” She elaborates explaining that she likes “to add some herbs and flowers… so they can repel unwanted pests and also bring in the pollinators”.
The result is a garden that will benefit both our staff and the local ecosystem!
On the beautiful spring morning, The Parkside Team gathered on the rooftop to get their hands dirty. Tasha led the group as they planted a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers, including tomatoes, basil, calendula and marigolds. The team worked with excitement as they sowed the seeds of their summer crops.
This project is special in many ways, but staff member Silas articulates it wonderfully saying, “This project is everything The Parkside stands for… it's the community, and it's using our space in the most eco-friendly way possible”.
This initiative is more than meets the eye; it is a means of supporting our ecosystems, fostering community, and establishing food sovereignty, all while in an urbanized corporate setting. Tasha agrees, saying, “I'm so passionate about this project as I want to inspire other companies big or small to install and grow food gardens for their staff”.
Further, this project shows the impact of community partnership. The Staff Garden was made possible by the support of Tasha @ThePurposefulYou, West Coast Seeds (seeds), Farm to Garden (soil), and Clean Air Yard Care (plant starters).
We can't thank you enough for your contributions!
The Parkside Hotel & Spa and Tasha (@ThePurposefulYou) hope to inspire both homeowners and businesses to utilize their spaces in creative ways this gardening season!
Some beginner advice from Tasha:
“Just start small, grow a few things and don't get overwhelmed, but also enjoy the whole process. We're going to fail, we're going to try new things, we're going to succeed and it's all part of the gardening journey!
For more tips on sustainable gardening visit Tasha on Instagram at @ThePurposefulYou.
Follow our journey as the garden grows! Visit us on Instagram at @Parkside_Hotel.