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Strathcona Rail Garden

Welcome to the Strathcona Rail Community Garden website. The garden is situated in Edmonton, Alberta, beside the High Level Bridge Streetcar line at approximately 106 Street and 87th Avenue (see map below).

Map of our garden location

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/16BJRjoS9lpCq0TDdnsMNtNNSviSTIDI8iIe_aQsweUG-r9ACE_jeiqwiZkpZyF5M2UKOz-kJi2v1Z7Hk94raGEU6TL2UY-SRTvU2Og4FMd0xFe3iSOfb-OdyboFs5T86L-xKsKo

History

The Strathcona Rail Community Garden, between 105 and 106 Street at 86 Avenue, has been a unique feature in the Old Strathcona neighborhood since the 1960s.

In 2008, the land owner expressed the desire to sell the land on which the garden is located. In 2009, the land was acquired by the Parks and Recreation Department for a community garden. Previous to becoming a community garden, about ten large lots had been leased to individuals through Asset Management and Public Works. Public meetings, inviting long-term and potential new gardeners, were held to start the process of creating a new community gardening group. There was much interest generated and the new Strathcona Rail Community Garden (SRCG) was created.

The garden was expanded in 2010 and 2011. In June 2013, City council unanimously voted to close the road on the west side of the garden and to rezone the garden area as parkland. The garden was then expanded over the reclaimed road.  The same year, the SRCG became a community program under the responsibility of the Strathcona Community League. The garden is currently operated by a Steering Committee of the Strathcona Community League; composed of gardeners, and with specific committees taking on varying responsibilities. By 2020, more than 65 families were gardening at the SRCG.

Our Aims

  • Mission statement

The Strathcona Rail Community Garden’s mission is to provide gardening and education opportunities to members committed to the work and enjoyment involved by providing support, structure and governance.

  • Vision Statement
    The Strathcona Rail Community Garden vision is for a place of beauty and serenity, where people of all ages can share in the great contentment of gardening. It’s a place for learning healthy, sustainable ways of producing food and flowers in cooperation with others. The garden is an asset to the community.

Values of the Community Gardeners

Responsibility: dedicated to the community, fellow gardeners for maintaining the garden; dedicated to continuous improvement of the garden;

Respect: for each member’s contribution and needs; respect for land, others and self; eating good organic food; respect for other opinions;

Integrity: in relationships in the group and in interacting with others;

Stewardship: keeping the garden sustainable; the idea of putting back into the soil and taking care of the land;

Co-operation: Sharing resources and knowledge; working together for common benefit;

Empowerment: the garden and gardeners empower each other to be self- sufficient and know they are capable of achieving success. Especially in these difficult economic times, we need to be able to do things for ourselves;

Generosity: sharing of wisdom, education and food;

Reciprocity: Sharing is not necessarily the same or equal, but all the gardeners know they are supported for mutual benefit.

Optimism: Belief in the possibilities of the garden.

Membership

To be a member of the garden, you must be a resident of the Garneau, Strathcona or Queen Alexandra communities with a valid community league membership. First-year gardeners are assigned a ½ plot (120 square feet) to grow their own produce.  These gardeners can then request to move to a full plot (240 square feet) the following year if there is space available.  Members are required to attend a compulsory group meeting at the beginning of the season in May and another one in October. Members must also volunteer for one of the committees and work at least 5 hrs during the season to maintain common areas. As of 2022, there is a garden fee of $21 per year. Plot holders must agree to, and sign, a gardening agreement contract.

Garden Plot Application Process

There is usually a waiting list for new applicants for a garden plot and the number of spots on the list is limited.  Once you are accepted for the waiting list, you will be asked via email to confirm your interest in early March when a plot becomes available.

The Waitlist of the Strathcona Rail Garden is now open!

Contact
To apply to be on the waiting list, please contact the Plot Allocation Committee at garden-plotallocation@strathconacommunity.ca  

Updated November 1, 2024