APIRG: Working Groups - Campus Community Garden

Campus Community Garden

ECOS initiated the Campus Community Garden, created during the spring of 2003. This organic garden uses as many sustainable agricultural practices as possible in order to showcase environmentally friendly gardening techniques.

The funds needed to create and plant the garden in 2003 originally came from APIRG and a Student Extracurricular Activity Grant (SEA) given by the Dean of Students. Since this time, the garden has been funded through ECOS' Operating budget, with additional funding for seeds and plants provided by APIRG.

Our garden boasts a greenhouse/storage shed, drip irrigation to assist with water conservation, and we have plans for a patio within the garden for people to relax and enjoy our educational seminars.

In its sixth year of existence, the campus community garden is in full swing. The garden is maintained according to organic practices outlined in our mandate:

Promote local, organic food production by producing food in a sustainable manner, without the use of pesticides, chemicals or genetically modified plants.
Provide the campus community with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge within a living laboratory.
Provide organic, fresh and healthy food for garden volunteers and the wider Edmonton community through either the Campus food bank or similar programs.

The garden and the volunteers within it are supported by a garden coordinator hired through ECOS, the Students' Union's Sustainability Office who also facilitates educational sessions such as soil, water, or agricultural conservation throughout the summer on Saturdays.

Location, Meeting Times and Contacts:

The garden plot, is located on 89th avenue between 110th and 11th street, within the East Campus Village area on the University of Alberta campus.

The garden always welcomes volunteers from the campus community; this includes students, staff and faculty. Drop by the garden during meeting times to get involved.

Gardeners are always welcome at the Campus Garden. No gardening experience necessary. Gardening implements provided. Just a willingness to help with weeding, harvesting, planting, and general relaxing in Edmonton's most beautiful community garden. We put the communal in community garden. So everyone helps , and we all reap the benefits.

Contact the current Garden Coordinator: (TBA)

To join the garden blog, click here:

For more general info Go to the ECOS site

or go to the Campus Community Garden Website