Community Garden
Dedicated Volunteers Keep Our Community Garden Going
For more information please see the
Parkallen Diggers Web Site
Unlike most community gardens, Parkallen’s Garden is not based on small plots, but is shared as a whole. The garden belongs to everyone and is a source of pride and pleasure for many in the community. Being one big garden allows us to grow larger areas of one vegetable such as squash and potato and we can water the whole garden at once. Being in an open field it cools down at night, so it is not so good for tomatoes and pepper, but great for leafy greens, herbs, beans and peas, and as everyone has surely noticed.. sunflowers.
We have 90 people on our garden updates email list, usually about 7 regular volunteers, and about 15 people who we can count on to come by and help occasionally. The girl guides often plant tulips in the fall. And kids with their parents come by and water or weed a little occasionally
Leader Roles
There are 4 executive positions that entail attending a short 1-2 hour Annual General Meeting and one planning meetings per year.
1) Garden Director
This position could be shared by dividing it between the physical and the networking work. Or shared by time of year. E.g. spring or summer.
Qualifications: a desire to meet and interact with others, a basic knowledge of gardening, good communication skills, some computer skills. Time required: about 2-4 hours a week on average through the spring and summer
· announces garden updates, gardening sessions and needs
· coordinates gardening sessions leaders
· oversees planting, tending, harvesting and clean-up of the garden
· updates 90-member mailing list
2) Garden Advisor
Qualifications: knowledge of organic gardening/permaculture. Does not require physical work. Availability during the spring planting season. Time required: 10 hours
· oversees the general health and appearance of the garden
· adds creativity and variety to the garden year to year
· suggests where to plant what in the spring and the materials and structure needed
· shops for seeds and supplies
· advises on soil maintenance, pest control, and if knowledgeable, on maintaining the trees and shrubs
· keeps a record of where and what were planted and any other useful notes that would be helpful in subsequent seasons
3) Program Liaison
Qualification: good communication skills, some computer skills. Time required: about 10 hours
· communicates with the Parkallen Community League on behalf of the garden
· keeps written records such as the initial terms of reference, annual meeting notes and any grant applications.
· responsible for taking notes at the Annual General Meeting
· responds to all public relations enquiries
4) Garden Communications
Qualification: communication skills, some computer skills. Time required: about 10-15 hours
· maintains our website, Facebook page and distributes brochures and surveys when there is an opportunity. if interested, may serve as the garden photographer.
· communicates with other garden leaders and gardeners about what needs to be posted and who needs to be phoned.
Other Volunteer Roles
Handyperson
Time required over the season: about 10 hours- keeps the shed, compost bins, water barrel, hoses and signs in good repair.
Master Composter
Qualifications: knowledge about how to keep compost healthy and ability to communicate with volunteers and coordinate efforts.
· maintains compost
· coordinates volunteers
· maintains compost signage
A self-built role
In the past, our members have hosted garden tours or facilitated workshops on topics like pickling, fermented foods or garden crafts. We've had programs for children offered through a junior gardening club (the Parkallen Sprouts) and have nurtured relationships with Green Circle Preschool, Little Learners Daycare, Parkallen Elementary School, Girl Guides and City of Edmonton Park Leaders. What's your niche? Other possibilities would be taking care of a certain element of the garden such as the trees, tomatoes or raised beds.
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New volunteers are always welcomed! Know of anyone who might like to participate? Our contact email is garden@parkallen.ca
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More ABOUT OUR GARDEN
The garden is located at 110th street and 65th Ave NW, south of the rink, west of the shelter.
The garden is planted, tended, and harvested collectively. No individual plots are assigned.
Anyone is welcome to walk through the garden and sample some veggies.
We practice permaculture methods including organic gardening (no pesticides, no fertilizer), composting, bio-diversity and community-building.
Contact information
If you are interested in participating in the garden at all, it would be helpful for planning if you would fill out our garden survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2YYVBZH
You can join our mailing list to receive updates about gardening events, scheduled gardening sessions, and workshops at the garden.
Email: garden@parkallen.ca,
Website: https://parkallendiggers.org/
Facebook page: “Parkallen Community Garden”