Strategy #1: “A Running Start”
Over the last few months, members of the Circle of Champions have been working on ranking priorities and creating a number of strategies to help move the Athabasca Grown project forward, after the feasibility report laid out many options to consider.
Working with Judi Rohl of Revivis Consulting, the final decision-making workshop was held April 24. The classic Athabasca Grown meal of chili and coffee fueled the day, and the group systematically evaluated which path to commit to.
…Drumroll please…
The Athabasa Grown members will begin discussions to build the three-season upside-down greenhouse at the Agri-plex grounds, in partnership with the Athabasca District Agricultural Society.
The site offers an existing barn and many useful amenities. The barn could be used as for the header room, wash station, produce storage and plant starts; and the site includes ample parking, meeting space, washrooms and an approved kitchen.
The values and goals of the two organizations are closely aligned. The Agricultural Society has long been a pillar of agriculture in the area and is seeing new energy through its developing community garden and food forest. This collaboration builds on that momentum, creating shared spaces and initiatives that bring people together around food, learning, and community.
The greenhouse building is planned to include a combination of low-carbon and conventional building materials materials, leveraging wood and locally sourced material where possible.
The greenhouse intends to have an annual net zero energy use, with the option to phase to fold-in grid back up etc. Solar panels could be installed when budget allows. The growing style will be open to a combination of soil beds or soilless growing, but a firm stop at sprayed pesticides.
During the discussions at the workshop, it was decided the top four priorities for the project are scope, food production, speed & momentum, and cost. Others of importance are community hub, equity and inclusion, education, autonomy and proof of concept.
Evaluating strategies against priorities, individually and then as a group, gave participants the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, listen to others’ opinions, logic, and rationale and come together to a decision to build a greenhouse and beginning food production as soon as possible.
The next immediate steps are to celebrate this decision, to build excitement, to enlarge the Circle of Champions and begin fundraising for the greenhouse.
From Seeds to Community: Highlights from our First Seedy Saturday
Two tables worth of hand collected and purchased seeds were donated and exchanged among the 90 people who attended our inaugural annual Seedy Saturday on March 14.
Nine local organizations and businesses presented information about local food and growing, pollination, fermentation, sprouting, and more. Athabasca’s Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives had a children’s table where over a dozen kids decorated seed pots and planted seeds in them and listened to garden-themed story books.
Three speakers had between 10-40 attendees listening in and participating. First, Michelle Sulz of Norland Brae Farm spoke about beneficial and harmful insects and pest control. We learned about common plant stressors and how every garden is an ecosystem in and of itself. Barbara from Little Beau Seed Company spoke on seed saving basics: how pollination works and when and how to collect seeds for saving. Representing Crooked Creek Conservancy, Ethan Zapach identified many wildflowers that are beneficial to pollinators and distributed “seed bombs” of them.
Meanwhile, much local and individual knowledge was shared among visitors, and the chili lunch provided by the United Church of Athabasca was delicious!
You can also look for the ongoing seed exchange at the public library.
Slides from the day’s presentations are available here - Norland Brae and Little Beau.
