The first question I am usually asked is what exactly is a ‘clam garden’. In these instances, it describes a cleared and terraced beach. They are ancient structures that were built, by coastal First Nations in the Pacific Northwest, to support traditional food species including, but not limited to, Pacific Little Neck clams (Protothaca staminea) and Butter clams (Saxidomas giganteus).

Here is a great video created by Hakai Magazine that describes the physical construction of these features very well. It also highlights an amazing and highly collaborative clam garden restoration project in the Southern Gulf Islands.