Community Garden

Visit the Garden

Our garden is always open to visitors, and we encourage everyone to come and enjoy its many unique features. The garden includes a large Saskatoon patch, fruit trees, a Little Free Library, seating areas, an accessible pathway, bee and butterfly houses, and other pollinator-friendly features.

While produce grown in individual beds belongs to the gardener who planted and tended it, we have assigned tasting and sharing beds where guests can try whatever is in season.

Guests are also welcome to harvest some of our rhubarb or snip herbs from the herb spiral. Some flowering plants were transplanted from Midfield Mobile Home Park before it closed, creating a living connection to neighbourhood history. The Indigenous medicinal bed also connects the garden to our prairie roots.

Become a Community Gardener

Here is what you need to know to become a community gardener:

• Standard 4 x 8-foot cedar organic beds rent for $50 per season.
• Wheelchair-accessible and standing tabletop 4 x 4-foot beds rent for $25 per season.
• The garden has 58 beds in total.
• Gardeners must have a valid WHMCA community membership.
• Each bed includes a minimum six-hour seasonal service commitment to support the garden.
• There is no charge to add your name to the waitlist for the year ahead.
• A $20 deposit may be requested to reserve a bed.
• Available beds are offered to those on the waitlist at the beginning of February.
• Any remaining beds may be offered to the public until the March 31 rental deadline.

What Is Expected of Gardeners

• Maintain a valid WHMCA community membership.
• Care for your own garden bed.
• Complete a minimum six-hour support commitment per bed each season.
• Attend the mandatory orientation for new members, offered twice in April or May.
• Attend the Annual Garden Meeting before the season and the Fall Wind-up meeting whenever possible.
• Plant by June 15 and clear out by October 31.
• Use organic gardening principles only.
• Respect other gardeners, visitors, neighbours, shared spaces, and Garden Committee policies.

Friends of the Garden

It takes a village to maintain the garden. In addition to gardeners who rent beds, several community members volunteer their time without renting a bed. We call them Friends of the Garden.

Friends of the Garden help with shared spaces, perimeter plantings, structures, events, seasonal tasks, and general upkeep. Anyone can join by emailing the Garden Team.

Community Garden History & Overview

The Community Garden offers a place for people to work and play together while growing healthy, organic food. Its inclusive vision welcomes visitors from the immediate community as well as others city-wide.

The garden has well-planned infrastructure, including 58 beds, fruit-bearing trees, a Saskatoon berry patch, an herb spiral, a Little Free Library, donation beds for the Veterans’ Food Bank, programs, events, and workshops.

Operations are governed by the Garden Committee, while the organizational structure supports input and participation from all gardeners.

Project Timeline

• 2011–2013: Research, project planning, and fundraising
• 2014: Phase 1 build and first year of operation
• 2015: Phase 2 build and ongoing operations
• 2016–present: Fully operational

The Build

• Design by Sue Fulkerth, landscape designer and previous community resident.
• Infrastructure, including pathways, bed placement, berms, and tree planting, completed by Artemis Landscaping.
• Cedar beds, pergola, arches, and shed built by volunteers.
• Perimeter shrubs and flowers planted by volunteers.
• Irrigation system with seven hose bibs provided and installed by the City of Calgary.
• Total project value: approximately $170,000.
• $90,000 raised through grants.
• $45,000 donated through services and materials.
• $35,000 raised within the community through personal and corporate donations, a contribution from the Community Association, and committee fundraising initiatives.
• 3,500 volunteer hours contributed to planning, research, design, budgeting, grant applications, and fundraising.
• 1,200 volunteer hours contributed over two building phases spanning two years.

Operations

• Bed rentals have been at full capacity since the garden opened, with an active waitlist.
• 49 rented 4 x 8-foot beds at $50.
• 2 tabletop 4 x 4-foot beds at $25.
• 3 wheelchair-accessible beds at $25.
• 2 donation beds.
• 1 communal tasting bed.
• 1 communal medicinal bed.
• Little Free Library, herb spiral, fruit trees, rhubarb plants, Saskatoon patch, and tasting bed are available to gardeners and community residents.
• Effective three-bin compost system produces enough compost for all members.
• A minimum of 400 volunteer hours is required over the season to maintain the garden and its operations.
• Gardeners commit to a minimum of six hours of support during the season.
• The maintenance program uses a team model that allows gardeners to work together weekly.

Annual Events

Pre-Season Clean-Up, Spring Fling, Family Summer Social, Fall Wind-up, and workshops.

Mission, Vision & Values

Mission: To feed our bodies and our souls through gardening.

Vision: Our garden is a beautiful landmark and accessible meeting place where we can grow healthy food in a cooperative learning environment.

Values: We are dedicated to operating our community garden in an atmosphere that is friendly, respectful, inclusive, and cooperative. We are mindful of the trust placed in us by the community and promise to be good stewards of the land and resources placed in our care.

Governance

The Winston Heights-Mountview Community Garden is governed by the WHM Garden Committee. The Committee is made up of volunteers and is responsible for garden oversight, budgeting, member and volunteer coordination, garden policies, special programs, membership records, and addressing non-compliance issues.

Outside the growing season, from November through May, the Committee meets bi-monthly to complete projects, review memberships, plan upcoming events, and explore improvements for the coming year. The garden is located on land leased by WHMCA from the City of Calgary. While garden members are entitled to garden at this site, visitors are permitted to walk through and enjoy the space. City of Calgary Parks bylaws apply.

Membership Eligibility & Fees

• Gardeners must be members of the WHM Community Association.
• Members in good standing may renew the same garden bed the following season.
• Members must register and pay a $20 deposit during the renewal period.
• After the renewal period, beds are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Each household is eligible for one garden bed per growing season.
• If beds remain unrented after the Annual Garden Meeting, they may be offered as second rentals to existing members for one season.
• A waitlist for open beds is maintained by the Committee.
• Rental fees are $50 for a 4 x 8-foot bed and $25 for 4 x 4-foot tabletop or wheelchair beds.
• Fees are reviewed annually and may be adjusted.
• Unpaid balances are collected at the Garden Annual Growers’ Meeting or may be paid before the meeting by cheque, cash dropped at the hall, or e-transfer to communitygarden@winstonheights.ca.
• Attendance at the Annual Garden Meeting or one of two orientation sessions is required to obtain a bed assignment and sign the membership agreement.
• The cancellation and refund deadline for bed rentals is April 30. Rental fees for cancellations after that date are forfeited.

Garden Members’ Rights

• To plant and harvest a rented bed alone or with family members or friends according to the Garden Policies.
• To receive communications from the Committee regarding garden news, events, and updates.
• To have full access to water, shared tools, the tool shed, and composting bins.
• To have unlimited access to the garden.
• To harvest from fruit-bearing trees and shrubs.
• To communicate with the Committee at communitygarden@winstonheights.ca and expect a timely response.
• To participate in garden social and workshop events.
• To receive verbal and/or written notification for non-compliance with policies.

Garden Members’ Obligations

• Abide by the Operations Policies of the Garden.
• Attend the Garden AGM and/or one orientation session and pay rental fees due at that time.
• Support garden maintenance and/or operations for a minimum of six hours per season as part of an assigned team.
• Make every effort to participate in cooperative work events, including communal or building projects and spring and fall clean-ups. These projects do not count toward the six-hour commitment.
• Plant by June 15, clear out by October 31, and remove perennials if not renewing.
• Strictly follow organic gardening principles.
• Use only approved fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides.
• Ensure that any soil or compost brought into the garden is organic.
• Plant only non-invasive species.
• Restrict plant height and support structures to four feet from the top of the soil to prevent shading neighbouring beds.
• Respect other members’ rights and avoid actions that are detrimental to members or visitors.
• Report non-compliance concerns, vandalism, or matters affecting the garden or members to the Committee.
• Act as a Garden Ambassador by greeting and welcoming visitors, answering questions, sharing contact information, and promoting the Garden’s mission, vision, and values.

Individual Bed Maintenance

• Permanent items are not permitted on garden beds, including nails, screws, wood staples, or permanent decorations.
• Members must ensure their gardens are weeded and watered regularly.
• Members must not rely on fellow gardeners to maintain their beds.
• Support structures must be stable in all weather conditions.
• Composting and mulching guidelines must be followed.
• Garden bed maintenance is monitored during the season by selected Garden Committee members.
• If a bed is neglected, the Garden Committee will notify the member.
• If there is no response after three days, the Committee may harvest abandoned produce or plants ready to go to seed.
• If there is no response after seven days, the Committee may revoke the member’s garden bed rental and take over responsibility for the bed.
• Members must deal immediately with insect infestations using manual and organic methods to prevent spreading to other gardens.

Watering Procedures

• Hoses are provided for watering.
• Members may not leave beds unattended while watering.
• Members must turn off water when finished.
• A watering tutorial is available on the garden’s Facebook page.
• During watering restrictions, City of Calgary water restriction bylaws must be followed.
• Watering equipment must be properly stored in the shed when not in use.
• Water reservoirs must be refilled when down to indicated levels.
• Members are expected to conserve water where possible.

Absentee Procedures

Garden beds must be maintained throughout the growing season.

• During short-term absences, such as illness, vacation, or work, members must ensure their gardens are maintained.
• Flags are available in the shed for short-term absence support.
• One flag indicates a request to water.
• Two flags indicate a request to water and harvest if necessary.
• For absences longer than two weeks, members must designate someone within or outside the community to maintain their garden.

General Policies & Information

• Each garden bed is clearly numbered by the Committee.
• Members may not trade or sublet their garden.
• Members may not register “in name only” while another person plants and maintains the bed.
• Captains or team leads are responsible for recording team member hours.
• Composting bins are available, but the correct process must be followed as shown on bins and signage.
• Garbage and recycling must be disposed of in on-site containers.
• The Lost & Found bin is located on the shed counter.
• The first-aid kit is located hanging to the left of the shed counter.
• Walkways and areas around garden beds must be kept tidy.
• No personal items are to be left in the garden.
• Shared tools and equipment must be cleaned after use and stored in the shed.
• No tools, soil, or compost may be removed from the garden site.
• The last member to leave the garden is responsible for locking the shed.
• Members may only pick produce or flowers from their own bed or communal beds unless invited by another gardener.
• Invitations to pick may be posted on the garden Facebook page.

Community Awareness

• Members are responsible for children, friends, and relatives accompanying them to the garden.
• Children must always be supervised.
• Members must be respectful of neighbours living near the garden.
• Vehicles should be parked in the WHMCA parking lot.
• Noise levels should be kept to a minimum.
• The garden is an on-leash area governed by City of Calgary bylaws.
• Leashes cannot exceed two metres in length.
• Dogs cannot be left unattended and tethered in a public place.
• Well-behaved, socialized dogs are welcome in the garden.
• Members are encouraged to hand out garden business cards to interested visitors.

A Shared Community Space

We are proud to work together in keeping our “work of heart” productive and beautiful. We love to share this realized vision with visitors and welcome all to enjoy this beautiful space and its bounty.