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URBAN EDEN COMMUNITY GARDEN
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Location: Bellamy
Hill Road & 99 Avenue
Plots: 37
Style: Raised bed gardening
Plot Size: 4' x 7' and 4’ x 14’
Number of Participants: 59 gardeners
Fee: $45 for full plot, $25 for half plot, which includes DECL membership
Qualification: Gardeners must
reside within DECL boundaries.
Information/Coordinator: info(at)woolsey.ca
(live link disabled due to spam)
 1999
TO 2010
Our Urban Eden was established
on Bellamy Hill in 1999 with the objectives of allowing people to garden and produce their own food; to use and
enhance vacant land within the downtown core; and to build a sense of community among downtown neighbours.
After 7 seasons, the property was sold and we were moved to a permanent site immediately south of our former location
on 99 Avenue between Bellamy Hill Road and 103 Street.
In 2006 we focused on the development of our garden at the new site. 2007 saw us installed in the new location
with 30 gardeners. In 2008, we added site entryway trellises, a park bench, a contemporary urban metal sculpture,
concrete planters and a wide variety of perennial flowers and shrubs.
In 2009 we welcomed several new gardeners. We received permission to use the small strip of land immediately south
of our space and, with the assistance of our CRC, applied for NPDP funding to build more raised beds. Thanks to
NPDP, DECL, and Manasc Isaac for funding this endeavour.
We started 2010 with a waiting list of 54 which nearly doubled over the following four months. Expansion of the
site, grading and construction of new beds by the fabulous fellows from Red Oak Construction took less than two
weeks in April 2010, and allowed us to accommodate 20 additional gardeners for the season. Thanks to Gary, Jeff,
Rodger and Barb for all of their hard work on our behalf!
Urban Eden needed to repair areas of the lawns and grounds throughout May and June so blocked East access to the
space until the property recovered from pedestrian short-cut damages. We are working to solve the problem of safe
site access from Bellamy Hill so our next project will be to build a sturdy pathway through the garden for guests
and those who've become accustomed to taking a short-cut through the garden.
We had a slow start to the garden because of early chilly weather so recheduled our annual open house for later
in the summer rather than the usual June 30. 2010 has proven to be an excellent growing season; the beginning of
August finds us with one of our lushest gardens ever and we're pleased to be included in the Central Edmonton Community
Garden Cycling Tour on August 21. We invite you to drop by and visit.
About The Garden
Urban Eden was one of the first community projects supported by the community league. It's still under DECL's umbrella
but is independently administered by the garden group which has their own Community Garden Coordinator, Secretary,
Treasurer, Social Committee and other positions as needed seasonally.
Urban Eden gardeners join a cordial community. Each gardener rents their own space and is provided with a contract
at the start of each season detailing courtesies, rules and responsibilities for gardening on this site. All are
required to contribute to site maintenance which includes mowing, trimming, filling water barrels and picking up
litter. They must also attend meetings, work projects and assist with open house/events and participate in the
spring and autumn clean-ups.
Over the past 10 years Urban Eden has regularly hosted community events including potluck suppers, group visits,
and open house/early Canada Day Celebrations complete with fireworks courtesy of Telus Field! We've met many out-of-towners
who've noticed the garden from their hotel rooms and ventured down the hill to see it.
We've provided garden space for the Inner City Children's Project in the past and participated in their summer
camps with day visits and workshops in birdhouse construction as well as traditional paper-making incorporating
cotton and abaca with garden plant materials and natural fibres.
Urban Eden invites local residents to visit the garden. It has become a valued part of the downtown community and
a model of successful community gardening. |
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The gardeners would like to acknowledge
and thank those who have sponsored and supported Our Urban Eden in 2010:
A special thanks to Rodger Davidson,
Barb Ursuliak, Gary Arnold, DECL and Manasc Isaac Architects -- we wouldn't have our new gardens without you!
April Livingston: annuals,
perennials, tomatoes and peppers
City of Edmonton Parks: garden expansion and services
Community Garden Network: advice and support
DECL: sponsorship of neighbourhood grant application and donation
Eric Brix: donation towards annual flowers
Laurie Nickerson: cobeas for the trellises
Manasc Isaac Architects: donation towards garden expansion
Maureen Neelands: garden card and tools
Red Oak Construction: garden expansion
Starbucks Omega Store: draw prizes
Starbucks Matrix Store: draw prizes
Thomas Kienzler: annual flowers for the garden sculture, exceptional site maintenance
Tyler Dickerson: annual flowers for the garden sculpture, exceptional site maintenance
Woolsey Design: garden signs, certificates, notices, annuals and draw prizes
Woolsey Engineering: shopping,
pick-up and delivery
The gardeners would like
to acknowledge and thank those who have sponsored and supported Our Urban Eden in 2009:
2009 Sponsors and Contributors:
April Livingston: annuals
and perennials
City of Edmonton Parks: garden site and services
Community Garden Network: advice and support
DECL: sponsorship of neighbourhood grant application
Laurie Blakeman, MLA: draw prizes
Sobeys Urban Fresh: draw prizes and donations to our open house
Springfield Growers, Mike and Carol Corsaux: perennial plants and flowers
Starbucks Omega Store: draw prizes
Woolsey Design: garden signs, certificates, notices, annuals and draw prizes
Woolsey Engineering: shopping
pick-up and delivery
The gardeners would like
to acknowledge and thank those who have sponsored and supported Our Urban Eden in 2008:
April Livingston: annuals and perennials
City of Edmonton Parks: garden site and services
Community Garden Network: garden grant
Cosmos Greek Restaurant: gift certificate
DECL: garden grant for arbour trellis
La Tapa Mediterranean Restaurant: gift certificate
Laurie Blakeman, MLA: draw prizes
Little Greenhouse on the Prairie: perennials
Michael Phair
Woolsey Design: garden signs, certificates, notices, annuals and draw prizes
Woolsey Engineering: shopping
pick-up and delivery |
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