Strathearn Community Garden
“Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another.”
About the Garden
Strathearn currently has one community garden, the Strathearn Community Garden, located in Silver Heights Park at 9511 90 Street. It provides an opportunity for residents to enjoy the health, social, economic and environmental benefits of local, organic gardening. No chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc. are used at the community garden.
The Garden has a unique dual purpose of both a community garden and public park space (maintained by the City of Edmonton Parks department).
Please review the FAQ for more information about gardening at the Strathearn Community Garden. Our wait list can be up to a year for a plot.
To sign up to be put on the garden plot waitlist, please complete this Waitlist Form.
What is a Community Garden?
A community garden is a group of people who garden in individual plots and/or common areas. Community gardens are created for a variety of reasons. Primarily, community gardeners grow for food self-reliance, for physical activity, and for social interaction.
Community gardens serve a community of diversity: the elderly, teens, low income, newly arrived immigrants, young children, and people with a variety of abilities. Quality of life is enhanced for all; influencing the individual, the family and the community in many ways. On a personal level, individuals are healthier with access to organic fruits and vegetables, are physically more active, and enjoy the benefits of social interactions with their neighbours. Families learn to work together to increase their food security. Garden members feel more at home and more engaged with their neighbours. Food is often grown for the Food Bank.
Physical change takes place within the community landscape. Unsightly abandoned lots are turned into safe and vibrant community gathering places. Monotonous lawns are filled with edible and decorative plant species which increase biodiversity. Neighbourhoods are greener, have a beautiful garden for all enjoy, and community gardens encourage better weed and litter control.
Strathearn Community Garden Quick Facts
350 m2 plot of land was made available to the Strathearn Community Garden by the City of Edmonton in 2018
18 raised bed garden plots including, a communal herb garden, flower beds, raspberry patch, rhubarb patch, and a wildflower garden.
Costs include $20 / year for a garden plot, plus a Strathearn Community League Membership ($10 Individual, $20 Family).
How Can I Become a Member of and get a plot at the Strathearn Community Garden?
Garden plots are assigned on a first come, first served basis to Strathearn residents. Gardeners who have tended a plot and completed the previous season in good standing will be granted their plot again for the following year.
Any open plots are offered to people from the waitlist, in order that an inquiry for the waitlist was made. To sign up to our garden plot waitlist, please complete this Waitlist Form.
What is Required of Garden Members?
All garden members are required to sign a garden contract at the beginning of each year that lays out the expectations of all members. See the current Strathearn Gardener Contract that garden members are expected to commit to each season.
What Do I Need to Grow Food in the Strathearn Community Garden?
Most of what you need to grow a great, healthy, and productive garden are provided with you garden membership. The garden has access to water at the Strathearn Community Hall and a large 300-gallon water storage tote right at the garden site.
A wide variety of tools and equipment are stored in a shed at the garden and are available for all gardeners to use including:
Shovels
Rakes
Hoes
Trowels
Watering Cans
Garden Carts
Wheelbarrow
Pruning Scissors
Stakes
Markers
The only thing you will need to provide for your own plot are the seeds you would like to grow!
If you are a beginner gardener and are unsure of how to begin or would like some guidance, let us know! There are many resources available and many current gardeners would be more than happy to help out with tips and suggestions.