Airdrie Urban Farm Collective opens garden to community with weekly Farm Days
Airdrie Urban Farm Collective welcomes volunteers and community members to weekly garden days throughout the summer.
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The Airdrie Urban Farm Collective is inviting the community to get involved with weekly Farm Days throughout the summer, offering a chance to learn gardening, connect with others and contribute to local food security.
Farm Days run every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the collective's fenced garden on the west side of the Eaton building in Airdrie. The space is home to celery, cucumber, corn, beans, squash, rosemary, beets, potatoes and more.
AUFC board chair Tessa Boutin, who joined the group a year ago after struggling to grow produce at home, said the collective creates space for people at all skill levels. "There's no amount of bad knowledge or good knowledge," Boutin said. "We're all working at different levels of knowledge within growing and gardening and farming."
AUFC is a member and volunteer-led organization with a $5 annual membership fee and currently has five members. No individual owns a plot; members share the space and work collectively. When someone brings an idea, the group works together to bring it to life.
The collective's partnership with Eaton began when the building was planning a social space for staff. After AUFC and Eaton's board connected, everyone became excited about the garden project. Eaton also donated wind protection for the fence and the space has a two-year commitment.
After harvests, produce is distributed among people who worked the farm. Leftovers go to the Airdrie Food Bank. The collective has also partnered with Blue Grass Garden Centre, which donates compost to support plant growth.
Boutin highlighted the mental health benefits of gardening work: "When I first started as a volunteer, it was something to help me get out and be around more people. Getting your hands in the dirt gives natural serotonin and dopamine for the brain, which is very important."
For those unable to volunteer, community donations are welcome. In the past, someone donated $5 and went home with a bag of fresh-grown produce. "We just really want to help people in the community because it's hard out there," Boutin said.
The collective hopes to expand if the garden outgrows its current space within the two-year commitment window.
At a glance
What happens to the vegetables grown there?
Produce is distributed among people who worked the farm. Any leftovers go to the Airdrie Food Bank.
How much does membership cost?
The Airdrie Urban Farm Collective charges a $5 annual membership fee.
