Garden Profile
Terwillegar
- Located at: Corner of Taylor Green and Terwillegar Common
- Number of plots: ~60
- Plot size(s): 10' x 10'
- Gardening style: Raised bed plots
- Number of participants: 42 members (2009)
- Fee: $10/plot + current community league membership (2009)
Qualifications: A desire to garden and participate in the achieving the vision and mission of the Terwillegar Community Garden.
History
The idea for the Terwillegar Community Garden Program started in 2006 with an attempt to locate a suitable site by a small group of interested and dedicated people. The program progressed when a community league survey performed in 2007 showed a high level of interest from the community.
In 2009 a suitable site for the garden was found on the Terwillegar Community League lands on Terwillegar Way. At this time, due to lack of city development on the site, only a temporary garden set-up with minimal structural investment is possible. Future permanent development will be pursued following the city’s development of the site.
Goals
The vision of the Terwillegar Community Garden Program is:
To tend to an enduring and evolving, environmentally conscious and sustainable community garden; endeavoring to cultivate comradery and extend enriching and educational experiences to everyone.
Our mission is to:
- Provide members with the opportunity to grow “organically”, i.e. without the use of herbicides or pesticides, vegetables and flowers in a suitable environment at relatively low cost
- Build a sense of community and be inclusive of all potential gardeners in the community
- Promote sustainable gardening practices such as organic gardening and on-site composting
- Share produce with community organizations
- Provide a place of beauty for others to enjoy
- Provide environmental education and outreach opportunities for Terwillegar and surrounding communities organizations, schools, businesses and individuals
Where the Garden is Now?
We have the basics covered: soil, water and gardeners. We have the support of community members, the Terwillegar Community League, the Edmonton Community Garden Network and the City of Edmonton. Our desire is to continue to ‘grow’!
Successes
At this point, just having the garden opened with eager and excited gardeners is a major success!
In addition, we have:
- secured our water supply
- obtained a garden shed through donation
- had our site fenced by the City
- had a successful growing season despite a late start (due to construction and weather!)
Challenges, Needs & Barriers
As always, funds and volunteer time are a challenge. But perhaps our biggest challenge will be in securing a permanent site for our garden.
In the short term we would like to finish the shed, obtain community use tools and perform some basic site upgrades; including squaring off and leveling of plots, additional mulching of pathways and spreading additional mulch along the fence line, and perhaps the addition of a picnic table or two.
Future Aim
To have a permanent site that can be developed in such a way so as to facilitate fulfillment of our vision and mission. To have a vigorous program lead by inspired and eager garden members whose desire it is to actively augment the quality of life in our community.