Winakwa Garden in the News!

The Winakwa Community Garden Committee has fantastic news; we’ve been given the green light to continue the garden program for this years coming 2022 growing season. Registrations will continue until all 38 raised boxes are rented for the season. 

Please note that the Winakwa Community Garden committee is currently on our final phase of fruit orchard plan bringing food security to the entire community. We have better signage to display the garden rules, designated communal areas to bring awareness, and a free fresh produce shelf for our community residents and garden members. 

Garden Vision

Cultivating personal, neighborhood and environmental well-being through a welcoming garden community.

Garden Purpose

· cultivate community through a welcoming, accessible neighbourhood garden that provides opportunities for community partnerships

· fertilize environmental stewardship by raising awareness about sustainable urban agriculture

· pollinate educational opportunities by sharing garden experiences, showing children how food is grown, and demonstrating a vibrant food garden

· germinate healthy living by growing nutritious food, being physically active, and enjoying a peaceful place.

Garden Membership

The Winakwa Community Garden raised garden boxes measure 3’x 9’.  Our gardeners have access to 2 water totes and compost bins onsite. The membership registrations take place in the spring and can be done online through the Winakwa Community Centre. Due to the pandemic the raised garden box fees will remain at $20 to reach more people of our community to have access to food security.

Rental Box Membership will be given according to the Winakwa Community Garden Rental Raised Box Rental Agreement being signed and fees paid in full. Raised garden boxes will be assigned to rental raised garden box on a first-come first-served basis. In subsequent years, rental raised garden box members from the previous year may ask to keep their previous garden box but may not be granted the same raised bed based on demand. Please watch for an email from winakwagardens@gmail.com for assigned garden boxes by mid-May.  Interested gardeners who do not receive a raised garden box will be maintained on a waiting list. Raised garden boxes are non-transferable.

Both adjacent high schools, Windsor Park Collegiate and Collège Beliveau, have their own assigned in-ground garden plots free of charge as an initiative to involve students in learning about food security, soil amendment and to be more active in the community.  The students take part in their schools Garden Club Programs. 

During the COVID 19 pandemic your health and safety are our priority. Please adhere to the following protocols when gardening at the Winakwa Community Garden site:

· Follow current outdoor gathering guidelines

· 6 foot social distancing

· Mask wearing when unable to adhere to social distancing

· Wear garden gloves or use hand sanitizer prior to getting water from the water tote

· Bring your own garden tools

· Bring your own watering can

· Only garden in your designated raised garden box

Please note that due to the current situation there is a higher chance of misappropriation of food from the gardens this year. The Winakwa Community Garden Committee is designating the North East in-ground plotted areas for the public during the pandemic to help deter theft, donation to our community and for replacement crops. Our garden has a Free Produce Shelf on-site where you have the option of placing any over abundance of crops which will be available to everyone in the community.

We look forward to our continued partnership with Windsor Park Collegiate and Collège Beliveau school staff and students, the Louis Riel School Division, the Winakwa Community Centre Board, MLA Audrey Gordon, and the community residents on growing this initiative.  Happy planting and see you in the garden!

We continue to work on the growth for the betterment of our community.  Stay tuned for updates on our Facebook and Instagram page - Winakwa Community Garden or reach out to our committee winakwagardens@gmail.com