Local food producers and gardening enthusiasts share their bounty with Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the cornerstones of good nutrition. To top off the ongoing donation of fresh product from the major supermarkets, we receive support from the local gardening and market community. For example, the vendors at the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market are supporting our work by providing wonderful fresh produce each week for our clients and agencies. Southwest Edmonton Farmer’s Market is also holding two collection days during the harvest for donations.

Fort Edmonton Park boasts four feature gardens, 14 kitchen gardens and two farm gardens. Much of the produce from those gardens is donated to Edmonton’s Food Bank.  The largest donation comes from the enormous expanse of land in front of the Fort, the Hudson Bay Garden. In the spring, volunteers from Buffalo Head Prairie School in Buffalo Head Prairie, Alberta, spent a day planting potatoes in that plot and the potatoes will be harvested in late September and donated to Edmonton’s Food Bank.

The Edmonton Organic Growers Guild has a plot of land at the University of Alberta where farm and volunteers cultivate niche and culturally specific crops. The majority of their harvest is donated to serve those facing food insecurity in Edmonton. To date, this group of dedicated individuals has donated 905 kilograms of produce such as beans, zucchini, cucumbers, peas, beets, Swiss chard and herbs! Not to be outdone, the Faculty of Agriculture at the University Farm also donates produce from their community garden.

For the last few years, a project near and dear to our hearts has been a garden plot at the Muttart Conservatory. Each year, youth from the Yellowhead Youth Centre roll up their sleeves and carefully tend and nurture their crop. Likewise, Lady Flower Gardens donates a portion of their harvest each year to help our work.

– Marjorie Bencz CM, Executive Director, Edmonton’s Food Bank