COMMUNITY GARDEN
This garden is a community-based project dedicated to bringing together neighbours to provide locally grown food for their families and other interested user groups.
The garden promotes community, organic growing methods, and a sense of shared responsibility and teamwork.
During the growing season each bed is rented, planted, maintained, and harvested by an individual or family with our neighbourhood.
email: communitygarden@hhca-ab.ca
FaceBook page
General Information
The Community Garden was started by and is managed by the Heritage Hills Community Association (HHCA). The HHCA maintains rental agreements with the Town of Cochrane and continues to up-keep the area and make improvements.
Construction was made possible through grants from the Cochrane Foundation, and the many volunteer hours from HHCA members. Volunteers worked with the Town of Cochrane, constructed the boxes, installed the premium garden soil, and built the fence. It was opened in 2020.
There are 20 boxes to rent each season. Rental costs are $20 for HHCA members and $40 for non-members. A rental agreement is signed by renters each season to communicate details and their responsible use.
Community
Renters are encouraged to use the garden boxes for vegetables and food production, but flowers are also welcomed.
Please be respectful of the garden area, and your fellow gardeners boxes and plants. Tidy up after yourself, take any garbage and tools home.
We encourage children to be involved in the garden - what an amazing opportunity to learn about where food comes from! Please ensure they stay close to your side and not into other gardeners boxes.
The HHCA cannot guarantee a bountiful crop or successful outcomes but gardening tips and learning opportunities are available online and through community discussions.
A compost bin is provided and must stay within the fenced garden. The HHCA maintains the bin - do not wheel it to the curb as it will not be picked up by waste trucks.
Water
Please use water responsibly.
Water is available by a metered tap, provided by the Town of Cochrane.
The tap is about 20m north of the garden, so bring your watering pails or buckets to make it easier to transport water to your box.
The tap will be locked to all except gardeners. Access codes to the lock will be provided to the gardeners.
Utility bills will be covered by rentals fees and will continue to be as long as renters continue to use water responsibly.
Pests, Frost, Hail
If you choose to use pesticides/herbicides, please be careful to use it in your box only, and ensure it abides by the backyard gardening and vegetable gardening standards/requirements. Ask the HHCA if in doubt.
Ground squirrels have been a problem in the past but since land to the east has begun development we have seen their numbers drop dramatically. REMEMBER: We are in nature and share the outdoors with all local creatures.
Any outdoor garden is susceptible to the elements including frost, hail, and heavy winds.
