Generations Growing and Gardening Together

 

  • Located at: 24 Capital Regional Housing Complexes in South Edmonton
  • Plot size(s): 4' x 10'
  • Total garden area: 14,200 sq.ft.
  • Gardening style: Raised boxes
  • Number of participants: 610 families
  • Fee: $2.00

* Winner of the 2003 Silver Laurel Award

Goal:

To provide south Edmonton residents of Capital Regional Housing complexes with the opportunity to garden at their respective housing sites.

Generations Growing & Gardening Together (GGGT) is a partnership project with On "R" Own Home Society; City of Edmonton, Community Services; and Capital Regional Housing Corporation (CRHC). Our goal is to provide south Edmonton residents of Capital Regional Housing complexes with the opportunity to garden at their respective housing sites. All residents of Capital Regional Housing are offered the opportunity to participate in the project. To date, our membership includes: Ekota I & II, Leeridge I & II, Hillview I, Menisa, Richfield I, II & III, Kameyosak I & II, Sakaw I, Tweddle Place, Steinhauer, Ermineskin II, Petrolia, Duggan, Blue Quill, Sweetgrass, Brander Gardens, Yellowbird II & III, and Saddleback I & II.
The purposes of the project are:

  • To develop skills in gardening.
  • To provide fresh produce.
  • To involve community members, i.e. seniors as volunteer mentors.
  • To develop a mechanism whereby residents build friendships, exchange resources and enhance the beauty and security of their living environment, i.e. community building.
  • To beautify their home and complex community.

Each year, a project coordinator is hired by On "R" Own Home Society, in partnership with the City of Edmonton, for four months during the summer to coordinate project activities in the complexes. The coordinator is also responsible for acquiring and distributing donations, connecting the community to resources, and problem-solving.

The success of our project is attributed to the site coordinators. Each participating complex has a resident who volunteers as the site coordinator. The site coordinators contribute their leadership, mentoring, and networking skills: keys to great community building. Together with the project coordinator and sponsoring agencies, they form a strong, passionate Members Board that is excited, hard working, and committed to keeping the communities' spirit strong.

Our members and organization have much to offer to fellow community gardeners: a skill base in low cost and no cost gardening, gardening with recycled and found objects, and recycling in general. We are moms and dads teaching our children life skills while gardening, grandparents and seniors who love to share our experiences and knowledge. We are a most resourceful group of gardeners!!

Challenges, Needs, and Barriers:

  1. We have ongoing needs for good soil, compost, and mulch.
  2. We require seeds, perennial and annual bedding plants each year.
  3. Experienced gardeners and “composters" are needed to help area residents.
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