Growing opportunities for urban agriculture
in Strathcona County
Ground we’ll cover • Urban agriculture & the context in Strathcona County • From strategy to community! • Notable examples and what’s next • What we’re learning!
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Ottewell House Community Garden –est. 2018
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Urban agriculture What is it: Simplest definition: growing and raising food in urban areas! Planning Perspective: - More complicated! - Who, what, where…HOW? Why do it: - Let’s talk about benefits!
Summerton Community Garden - est. 2018
Placemaking & community
Placemaking: The process through which we transform the spaces where we are located into places to live. Placemaking: A human effort to give meaning to our surroundings - Fernando Velarde Trejo, Community rejuvenation through placemaking initiative: Planners, farmers’ markets and urban neighbourhoods, Central Park neighbourhood, Winnipeg Canada. Master of City Planning Thesis, University of Manitoba, 2012.
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Local context • Urban agriculture - Pre-2016:
– Two community gardens on County land – School garden program est. 2013 – ‘Garden’ community and leadership:
• Strathcona in Bloom • Strathcona County Garden Club
– Pollinator garden in Centennial park – Naturalization areas - native berry trees & shrubs
(i.e. saskatoons, currants, chokecherries, etc.)
• Residents and Council want more opportunities for urban ag!
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Urban Agriculture Strategy • 2015 - Approved Agriculture Master Plan • 2016 – Engagement; Urban Agriculture Strategy developed and approved • Strategy areas:
– Community & school gardens – Edible landscaping – Urban Farms – Urban Livestock &
Bee Healthy Campaign – Home Gardens
• 2017 - 2020 - Implementation & Review strathcona.ca/urbanag
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Strathcona Christian Academy School Garden – est. 2017
Laying the foundation for urban ag • Internal processes
– Standards, policy, land use bylaws…
• Ongoing engagement – Online surveys, open houses,
Urban Ag e-newsletter, events!
• Storytelling
• Grassroots and County-led – Finding middle ground
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Out in the community (2017)
Laying the foundation cont. • Learning from others:
– Our residents and community groups – Staff in other cities and towns – Our staff from various departments
• Teamwork and trust
• Creative process or visual identity
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Box construction – 100 (2018)
The Edible Garden
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Help from Strathcona in Bloom volunteers
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The Edible Garden
Pop-up events at the Edible Garden
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Celebrating Garden Day - June 16, 2018 at the Edible Garden
Online edible plant map
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Urban ag workshops – Get Your Pickle On
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Still to come • More community gardens (including developer-designed)
• Edible Fruit Gardens
– Adopt-a-plot/Fruit Rescue programs – Interpretive edible signs
• Bee Healthy Awareness Campaign
• Home Gardens
• Education, workshops, tours
• Fine tuning and evaluation 10/4/2018 14
Bee motel at the community garden
What we’re learning Urban agriculture is about connections:
– To people – To place – And to food!
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School garden pea growing contest with local sponsor, Salisbury Greenhouse
What we’re learning
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First
Fast Correct
Seth’s Blog September 4, 2018 – Seth Godin
Thank you • Contact:
[email protected] 780-417-7100
• Learn more: – strathcona.ca/urbanag – strathcona.ca/edibleplants – strathcona.ca/communitygardens – strathcona.ca/schoolgardens
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Artichokes at the Ardrossan Community Garden