Community Gardens are Growing in Rural Alberta!

Community gardens are not new to the scene of outdoor recreational activities. Community gardens have been established around the world long before our lifetime. However, it seems in the last few years the concept and implementation of such gardens have become more widespread and well known.

Several partner communities of ACE have either began to talk about developing a community garden in their area or have initiated the ground breaking of a garden. Hinton will soon be developing a combined greenhouse and outdoor garden concept and other ACE Communities are creating their community gardens, such as Irricana and High Level.

There are several reasons why community gardens are important to both the individual and communities. The council of Saanich, BC has identified key reasons why community gardens are valuable:

"Community gardens are a valuable community recreation activity that contributes to health and well-being, positive social interaction, community development, cultural expression, connection to nature, protection and use of open space, and economical food production."
(http://www.gov.saanich.bc.ca/municipal/clerks/bylaws/pdfs/gardens.pdf).

Other benefits include: food security, food sharing, reduced kitchen and restaurant waste, increased compost awareness, educational opportunities, increased skill base, and opportunities for all ages and abilities to come together around a common goal. The City of Victoria, BC is active in supporting community gardens and the link outlines several more benefits of community gardens.(http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/pdfs/cmmnty_garden_policy.pdf)

Community gardens cross-over through several sectors in a community: recreation, arts, culture, business, social, health, and more. Community partners may include parks and recreation departments, planning and development departments, and several private and public partners. As any community development initiative, tapping into resources that may seem "out-of-the box" may reap several benefits.

When the local council supports the development and implementation of community gardens there is greater success in the longevity of these projects. Likewise, gaining community partners in developing the gardens are important to build networks, create a stronger profile in the community, gain support, and have increased access to resources.

It is important to understand that community gardens and sustainable community planning are two vital concepts to urban planning. This means the city planners need to re-think and be innovative about utilizing space during development. Securing areas in urban centres for community gardens establishes a way to increase the quality of life for residents. (http://www.cityfarmer.org/dianaCGplanning.html).

Check out in your area if there is a community garden. Learn more about them and how to become involved. Be proactive in securing our local food sources and creating opportunities for residents to be active, creative, and engaged in rural Alberta!