Little Italy Community Garden

Citizens with disables, McCauley residents and community volunteers helping to build the Little Italy Community Garden

Skills Society is thrilled to have received support from the City of Edmonton Neighbourhood Revitalization Matching Fund to build a Community Garden in the Little Italy area of the McCauley neighbourhood.

We are excited about the opportunity to help beautify this large corner in Little Italy. The construction of the Community Garden is now complete, and the McCauley neighbourhood is buzzing about their new community space. Many families and individuals rushed to rent flower beds this summer and we are now fully booked. However, we are now accepting bed rental applications for the summer of 2016. Aside from renting a flower bed, there are also many other ways in which you can get involved with the Community Garden. Please consult our Garden Brochure for more general information. 

Join some great citizens with disabilities, and McCauley residents and help strengthen connections in this vibrant neighbourhood.

Find out more!

To Connect with this project, get updates and check out some great pics please visit our Facebook page.

• Project Objectives

  Stewardship Phase (summer 2016):

  • To gift the Community Garden fully to the McCauley community;

  • To form a Community Garden Committee that has McCauley residents take on leadership roles;

  • To create a sustainable and inclusive garden policy that is appropriate for the McCauley neighbourhood; and

  • To implement a Community Compost ProgramDescription text goes here

• Achievements to Date

  • A diverse collective of people were brought together;

  Construction Phase I:

  • 15 upright garden beds were built; and

  • 3 lower wooden garden beds were built.

  Construction Phase II:

  • The remaining 15 upright garden beds were built;

  • A large ornamental bed was built with a beautiful arbour and brick pathways;

  • All of the beds have been planted with either flowers or vegetables;

  • A sturdy shed was built for storage;

  • A pallet composter was built; and

  • the garden has been decorated by an innovative collective.

• Impact

  • Beautify a corner of the McCauley neighbourhood.

  • Bring together a creative collective to steward the garden build.

  • Bring together citizens with disabilities, McCauley residents, business and community leaders, Skills Society board members and staff to work as a strong collective on a project that revitalizes an important area of Edmonton.

  • Offer opportunities to learn about engaged citizenship through action.

  • Enhance Skills Society’s capacity to contribute to the healthy communities movement.

• Thank You to Past Sponsors

  • Leah Arnason (Landscape architect)

  • City of Edmonton Great Neighbourhoods Matching Grant

  • Hole’s Enjoy Center

  • The Works

  • Todd Holden (Bobcat operator extraordinaire)

  • YouCan Society

  • Mustard Seed

  • Urban Spirits Rotary Club

  • RBC Day of Service grants

  • RBC Reach Employee Resources Group

  • Chipps Tree Care Inc.

  • Zocalo

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