Spotlight on Sustainability: Community Garden Club

Summer may be coming to an end, but the harvest is still underway for the Community Garden Club. The 40 open air plots, constructed about 10 years ago, are home to various fruits and vegetables as well as some flowers; poppies and sunflowers amongst them.

The club, which has been in operation for the past two years, manages the plots and provides opportunities for students, staff and local community members to learn about and implement sustainable agriculture practices on campus.

For some, the idea of joining a club might seem daunting and time consuming, so in 2013 the club participated in the ucalgarycares Day of Service. Engineered by the Centre for Community-Engaged Learning, the Day of Service was an opportunity for students to experience volunteering on a smaller scale at various placements across the city. The campus’ garden plots saw 15 first-year students come to volunteer in the day’s harvest, while the club’s executive members answered questions and addressed the importance of awareness of sustainable food choices.

Until Oct. 3, the club will co-ordinate weekly meetings — Thurs“Gar”Dens as the club affectionately refers to them — where members will take part in this year’s harvesting activities. As the name suggests, meetings will be held on Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Community Garden located just south of Student Family House on the corner of Collegiate Road and 39th Street. Anyone is welcome to join.

The club is also setting up a trip to Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farm to observe small-scale agriculture and to lend a hand in the potato harvest. The tour is planned for the weekend of Oct. 5.

For more information on the farm tour/harvesting party and other events, to submit an inquiry or request subscription to the Community Garden Clubs mailing list, you can email the club at uofcgardenclub@gmail.com and get started on greening your thumb, while promoting sustainable food practices for everyday living.

Spotlight on Sustainability is an ongoing series profiling the work of students, faculty and staff. To submit story ideas please contact the Office of Sustainability.