With spring finally here, work has started for the Airdrie Urban Farm Collective.
The collective is a registered non-profit organization. They are growing food and learning together as a community of all ages and stages.
Jana Hooper, a board member and volunteer with the collective, is excited for this year's garden.
"We now have fresh compost on all of our garden beds. We're also building a couple of new things at the farm this year called hoop houses and high tunnels that are little mini greenhouses over the garden beds."
She explained that receiving a $1000 grant has made this possible to expand their growing capabilities.
"One of the biggest ones that we're trying in mini greenhouses is eggplant. One of our members is from Ukraine, and she has asked if we would please grow her some eggplant."
Here is a list of all the different produce the collective is growing this year.
- Beets
- Carrots
- Celery
- Corn
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Garlic
- Green beans
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Parsley
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Radishes
- Raspberries
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Summer squash
- Swiss chard
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
The community-run garden was built on donations as they gather each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday nights during the summer (6 p.m. until 8 p.m.) to take care of the garden; anybody is allowed to join the collective.
Hooper explained that you are able to purchase produce from the garden for any amount of donation that you can afford, or if you work on the garden, you are able to take some produce home with you if it is ready.
Last year, the garden donated 750 pounds to the Airdrie Food Bank. This year, they are hoping to reach the 1000-pound mark.
"Our goal is healthy food in the hands of Airdrie at an affordable price. Any donations that we do get just go to keeping the farm alive."
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