Helping The Seedling Garden Grow in Chilliwack

At Kel-Mor, we believe local materials can do more than support landscaping projects, driveways, and job sites. Sometimes, they help build places where the community can gather, learn, grow, and share.

This spring (2026), Kel-Mor is proud to support The Seedling Garden, a volunteer-led community garden at Chilliwack Seventh-day Adventist Church, located on Riverside Drive in Chilliwack.

We recently met with Lori Kriwokon, who is part of the church team and volunteer group helping bring The Seedling Garden to life. Together, the church and its volunteers are transforming an unused piece of land into a welcoming space that helps feed and support local people in need.

A Garden With a Bigger Purpose

The land where The Seedling Garden now grows has a unique story.

The church once owned a house on the property, but after a fire destroyed the home, the space was left empty. Thankfully, no one was inside at the time of the fire. Rather than letting the land sit unused, members of the church saw an opportunity to turn it into something meaningful for the community.

Chuch volunteers applied for sponsorship through ADRA and was approved for funding for a three-year community project. With that support, The Seedling Garden officially began in May 2025.

The goal is simple but powerful: grow fresh food and donate it to people in the community who can use extra support, including seniors, newcomers, families, and neighbours facing food insecurity.

Growing Food, Skills, and Community

The garden is cared for entirely by volunteers from the church. Youth groups are also getting involved, helping with planting, building, and learning along the way.

Last season, the garden produced an impressive harvest, including watermelons, lettuce, kale, squash, tomatoes, parsley, garlic, and cabbage.

This year, church volunteers are focused on expanding the garden even further. They plan to add more garden boxes, pathways, vegetables, berries, and fruit plants at the upper end of the property.

The long-term vision is for The Seedling Garden to become more than a place to grow food. The hope is that the garden will also become a place where children and youth can learn about gardening, nutrition, healthy eating, and sustainable living.

How Kel-Mor Got Involved

Lori first knew Kel-Mor as a customer. She had purchased soil and mulch for her own garden and appreciated the quality of our materials.

When The Seedling Garden needed support, she reached out to Kel-Mor and connected with Spencer, our VP. From there, a relationship began.

Kel-Mor was happy to step in and help. Last season, we donated a truckload of topsoil to support the garden beds. This spring, we donated a truckload of bark mulch to help the team continue building and expanding the space.

As Lori Shared: "We are so grateful that Kel-Mor was able to contribute materials to our Seedling Garden."

For a growing community garden, quality materials make a big difference. Good soil helps vegetables thrive, while mulch helps protect garden beds, manage weeds, retain moisture, and create a more finished, welcoming space.

Lori also shared that our mushroom compost is one of her favourite materials for gardening. In her words, it is like gold for helping plants and vegetables grow.

One Seed Can Grow Into So Much More

The name The Seedling Garden carries a special meaning. It reflects the idea that from one small seed, something much bigger can grow. Something that can be shared with others.

That is exactly what is happening here.

What started as one idea has grown into a garden that feeds neighbours, teaches youth, brings volunteers together, and turns an unused piece of land into a place of purpose.

The Seedling Garden reflects the shared vision of the church and its volunteers, who are working together to create a space that gives back to the community in a meaningful way.

As the garden continues to grow, so does its potential to provide fresh food and bring people together. We are grateful that Kel-Mor materials can play a small part in supporting that vision.

At Kel-Mor, supporting local projects like this is part of who we are. We are proud to serve Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley, and we are always grateful for opportunities to support people who are working hard to make our community stronger.

We look forward to seeing The Seedling Garden continue to grow! Visit the Chilliwack SDA Church website or their Facebook Page for more information.

Photos courtesy of Charlotte Ahern and Lori Kriwokon of Chilliwack Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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