The Garden

Until a few years ago, Acorn relied on sorrel and other local ingredients to emulate "citrus" in our cuisine. As a locavore restaurant, we could not pick up a lemon from the nearby grocery store. Enter The Garden. Jane Squier had been quietly growing unique citrus varieties on nearby Salt Spring Island, and when there was finally enough to share, Acorn was lucky enough to be one of the select restaurants to offer them.

Jane Squier is the visionary horticulturist behind The Garden on Salt Spring Island, where she defies expectations by cultivating over 35 varieties of citrus and avocados—crops once thought impossible to grow in Canada’s climate. With more than 40 years of experience in greenhouse and market gardening, Jane employs innovative, resource-efficient methods to produce nutrient-dense, locally grown fruit. Her dedication to sustainable agriculture and regenerative practices has made The Garden a beacon of possibility in Canada’s Pacific Southwest. We love Jane’s infectious enthusiasm for all things citrus and look forward to deepening our relationship with her.