Volunteers of the Green and Gold Community Garden grow an abundance of local produce at the University Farm on South Campus.
One of the faculty's favourite community engagement endeavours-the Green and Gold Community Garden-held a celebration on the weekend to mark the national recognition it received by being awarded a Senate of Canada 150 Medal.
Sen. Grant Mitchell of Alberta selected the garden for the honour, which commemorates the first sitting of the Senate in 1867, because of its "remarkable efforts that benefit the local community and the Tubahumurize Women's Association (of Rwanda) in such a meaningful way."
The award was announced in October, but on Dec. 16 garden organizers and volunteers gathered to toast that success, and also to recognize the garden's other achievements of the 2017 season. Sales to the public of the fruits and vegetables grown by the garden's volunteers fund the Tubahumurize association, a program for vulnerable women and children in Rwanda. In 2017, the enterprise raised $33,048, with Tubahumurize handicraft sales raising an additional $7,281 and bedding plants $3,737.
"The Green and Gold Garden exemplifies the work being done in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences," said Stan Blade, dean of the faculty. "Through its focus on community engagement and food for health, the garden mirrors the work being done by our scientists and students. We are proud of all of their contributions and are very grateful for the recognition by Sen. Mitchell."
Another notable success for the garden this past year was its orchard tours program, developed to celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial. Six tours were offered over the summer, to highlight to the public the different types of fruit that can be grown in Edmonton and how they are grown using environmentally friendly methods.
From May to October, the garden was managed by 125 people comprising seven groups, for a total of more than 3,100 volunteer hours. On average, there were 25 volunteers at work on Tuesdays and Saturdays and 10 on Thursdays.
"Volunteering at the garden this year has given me as much pleasure and satisfaction as ever," said participant Anna Mioduchowska. "Nothing beats being part of a group effort to coax food out of the ground, and to know that others also reap benefits from the work."
The Senate of Canada 150 Medals are awarded to Canadians or permanent residents actively involved in their communities who, through generosity, dedication, volunteerism and hard work, make their hometowns, communities, regions, provinces or territories better places to live. Each senator received 12 medals to award.