The Green & Gold Community Garden is a community garden with a difference. We think of it as a garden with both local and global benefits. The Garden is run by volunteers and is located on the beautiful University of Alberta Farm in the heart of Edmonton. Our produce is grown using organic gardening practices, with no pesticides or herbicides. The Garden is open to the public during twice-weekly markets, when our freshly picked produce is available. All of the proceeds go towards supporting the Tubahumurize Association in Rwanda. Bring your family and friends to see a small working farm, learn about growing food locally, walk around the paths and enjoy the Garden!
In 2008, Dr. Sarah Bowen, a professor in the School of Public Health, and her husband, Eduardo Parada, asked the University of Alberta for space to create a community garden on the University’s South Campus farmland. They had previously raised funds for Tubahumurize from their garden in Manitoba, selling their garden produce to friends and neighbours. With a plot of University land and a small band of volunteers, the first seeds were planted in the spring of 2009. Despite a summer drought that year, most of the crops thrived and the first market opened. Since then, the Green & Gold Community Garden has flourished.
It is with profound grief and sadness that we are letting you know that Dr. Shirley Ross, a founder of the Green & Gold Community Garden, and its long-time manager and driving force, has passed away.
Thanks to the generous donations from the Edmonton community, the Green & Gold Community Garden has to date raised over $568,000 for the Tubahumurize Association. Each year’s fundraising total is a combination of amounts raised from both garden produce donations and the sale of products and crafts made by the women of Tubahumurize..
The Green & Gold Community Garden is supported by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences (ALES) which allows us to use two acres of land on the University’s farm on South Campus. ALES provides compost, use of irrigation and equipment, greenhouse space, storage space and manages the Garden financial accounting. In the past, along with ALES, the School of Public Health and the Office of Sustainability have also provided support to the Garden through communications, accounting and sustainability grants. We are very grateful to the University for their continued support.
Many thanks to the donors who gave us seeds, plants, gardening supplies, graphic design help, grant funding, and other support this year. And, thank you to our generous customers who often top up their produce purchases with extra donations to Tubahumurize.
BMR Greenhouses
Edmonton Potato Growers
Fort Edmonton Greenhouse
Mojo Jojo Pickles
Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds
Parkland Potato Varieties
Salisbury Greenhouse
Strathcona MicroGreens
Sustainable Food Edmonton
TD Bank Friends of the Environment
20/20 Seed Labs Inc.
University of Alberta, Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
University of Alberta, Energy & Climate Action
University of Alberta, Facilities & Operations
West Coast Seeds
