(Supplied)

By Daniel Barker-Tremblay

Common Ground Garden Project

Local group growing food sustainability

Jan 21, 2022 | 3:52 PM

Concerns over food insecurity and supply chain issues have inspired a group of locals to establish a “ground-breaking” initiative of sorts.

The Common Ground Garden Project, located in Red Deer’s up and coming Capstone neighbourhood, is a group of individuals hoping to help how families can access what they need at food banks, and also grows fresh produce, giving it to the Mustard Seed and Salvation Army to help them serve their clients as well.

“A group of us got together and saying how can we create a project where we can start teaching people on how to grow their own food. We’re going to take that a step further this year by adding on how to preserve it for the winter months and how to prepare it,” says project spokesperson Art Van Zanten “That is the whole principle for the project.”

This year, expansion of their Capstone site will be a focus, as well as seeking funding for the project so the food they grow can grow all year round.

Van Zanten says, “We will also be teaching classes on how to preserve the food that is growing in the summer because not everyone is going to be able to put a greenhouse in their own backyard. Even if you’re living in a condo you can grow food on your patio in the summer. However, there is still winter to consider on how to deal with it and that’s what we do.”

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Last year, Van Zanten says their group donated fresh produce towards the Mustard Seed and Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE), noting both organizations have their own garden beds assigned to them at another site.

This year, he says their focus is set on giving towards The Salvation Army and the Red Deer Food Bank Society. Van Zanten says a kitchen will be added to the food bank, with a focus on how to preserve food. All of this, adds Van Zanten, is being done under the banner of Rethink Red Deer.

According to Van Zanten, a plan has been developed for 2022, saying the bar has been set “pretty high” when it comes to expanding the garden and their education portion.

“We are cautiously planning some events to better showcase for the citizens of Red Deer and surrounding areas on what we’re up to and how they can become part of it as we are always looking for volunteers to grow this project.”

For more information visit: https://rethinkreddeer.ca/commonground

For volunteer opportunities contact: outreach@rethinkreddeer.ca